Ventricular fibrillation (VF)

Ventricular fibrillation (VF)

ECG characteristics

· Atrial rhythm : can not be determined.

· Ventricular rhythm : no pattern or regularity.

· Atrial rate : can not be determined.

· Ventricular rate : can not be determined.

· P wave : indiscernible.

· QRS complex : duration indiscernible.

· Other : coarse / fine VF depending on size of waves

Possible causes

· Acute myocardial infarction /coronary artery disease

· Untreated VT / ‘ R on T ‘ phenomenon

· Congestive heart failure

· Hypokalaemia / hyperkalaemia / hypercalcaemia

· Cardiomyopathy

· Hypothermia

· Acid base imbalance

· Drug toxicity (Digoxin, Quinidine, Adrenaline, Procainamide)

· Blunt or penetrating cardiac trauma

· Electrical shock

Treatment

· Defibrillation and CPR

· Treat cause

· Consider drug therapy ((Adrenaline ( especially fine VF to induce coarse VF then defibrillation) Lignocaine, Magnesium, Calcium, Amiodarone, Bretylium,

Procainamide))