ARRHYTHMIAS-VENTRICULAR FIBRILLATION (VF)

SUMMARY

1. During ventricular fibrillation the ventricle depolarises at random with the ECG showing a rapid, bizzarre appearance of varying amplitudes.

2. VF is the most common cause of sudden cardiac arrest and is fatal if resuscitation is not instituted immediately.

3. Causes: ACS, hypertensive heart disease, valvular disease, drugs (anti-arrhythmics, digoxin, TCA), inherited cardiac diseases (long-QT syndrome), acidosis, electrolyte abnormalities (potassium, magnesium, calcium), hypothermia, electrocution.

Reference(s)

Wilkinson, I., Furmedge, D. and Sinharay, R. (2017). Oxford handbook of clinical medicine. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Get it on Amazon.
Feather, A., Randall, D. and Waterhouse, M. (2020). Kumar And Clark’s Clinical Medicine. 10th ed. S.L.: Elsevier Health Sciences. Get it on Amazon.
Hannaman, R. A., Bullock, L., Hatchell, C. A., & Yoffe, M. (2016). Internal medicine review core curriculum, 2017-2018. CO Springs, CO: MedStudy.
Therapeutic Guidelines. Melbourne: Therapeutic Guidelines Limited. https://www.tg.org.au [Accessed 2021].