ventricular fibrillation 2010

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Ventricular fibrillationVF; Fibrillation - ventricular

Last reviewed: June 22, 2012.

Ventricular fibrillation (VF) is a severely abnormal heart rhythm (arrhythmia)that can be life-

threatening.

Causes, incidence, and risk factors

The heart pumps blood to the lungs, brain, and other organs. Interruption of the heartbeat foronly a few seconds can lead to fainting (syncope) or cardiac arrest.

Fibrillation is an uncontrolled twitching or quivering of muscle fibers (fibrils). When it occurs in

the lower chambers of the heart, it is called ventricular fibrillation. During ventricularfibrillation, blood is not pumped from the heart. Sudden cardiac death results.

The most common cause of VF is a heart attack. However, VF can occur whenever the heart

muscle does not get enough oxygen.

Conditions that can lead to VF include:

Electrocution accidents or injury to the heart Heart attack Heart disease that is present at birth (congenital) Heart muscle disease, includingcardiomyopathies Heart surgery Narrowed coronary arteries Sudden cardiac death (commotio cordis), typically occurring in athletes after an injury over the

surface of the heart

Most people with VF have no history of heart disease. Yet they often have risk factors for heart

disease, such as smoking, high blood pressure, and diabetes.

Symptoms

A person who has a VF episode can suddenly collapse or become unconscious, because the brainand muscles have stopped receiving blood from the heart.

The following symptoms may occur within minutes to 1 hour before the collapse:

Chest pain Dizziness Nausea
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Rapid heartbeat Shortness of breath

Signs and tests

A cardiac monitor will show a very disorganized heart rhythm.

Tests will be done to search for the cause of the VF.

Treatment

Ventricular fibrillation is a medical emergency and must be treated immediately to save aperson's life.

If a person who is having a VF episode collapses at home or becomes unconscious, call the localemergency number (such as 911).

While waiting for help, place the person's head and neck in line with the rest of the body to helpmake breathing easier. StartCPRby doing chest compressions.

Continue to do this until the person becomes alert or help arrives.VF is treated by delivering a quick electric shock through the chest using a device called an

external defibrillator. The electric shock can immediately restore the heartbeat to a normal

rhythm, and should be done as quickly as possible. Many public places now have these

machines.

Medicines may be given to control the heartbeat and heart function.

Animplantable cardioverter defibrillator(ICD) is a device that can be implanted in the chest

wall of people who are at risk for this serious rhythm disorder. The ICD can help prevent suddencardiac death by quickly sending an electrical shock when ventricular fibrillation occurs.

It is a good idea for family members and friends of people who have had VF and heart disease totake a CPR course. CPR courses are available through the American Red Cross, hospitals, or the

American Heart Association.

Expectations (prognosis)

VF will lead to death within a few minutes unless it is treated quickly and effectively. Even then,long-term survival for people who live through a VF attack outside of the hospital is between 2%and 25%.

People who have survived VF may be in a coma or have long-term damage.

Welcome to theMNT Knowledge Center,your source for our most detailed content on specificconditions and subjects. Click through toKnowledge Center Hometo read more.
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What Is Ventricular Fibrillation? What Causes Ventricular Fibrillation?Saturday 15 May 2010 - 12am PST

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Ventricular fibrillationis an abnormally irregular heart rhythm caused by rapid, uncoordinated fluttering

contractions of the ventricles - the lower chambers of the heart. These fluttering replace normal

contractions. Ventricular fibrillation puts the heartbeat andpulsebeat out of synch.

The pumping chambers in the ventricles quiver uselessly, instead of pumping blood, resulting in a

serious drop inblood pressure,and the cutting off of oxygen-rich blood to body organs.

Ventricular fibrillation is a life-threatening medical emergency. It is most commonly linked toheart
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attacksor scarring of the heart muscle from previous heart attack. A patient with ventricular fibrillation

generally collapses within seconds - and it won't be long before his/her breathing or pulse stops.

What is the difference between ventricular fibrillation and atrial fibrillation?

The human heart has two upper chambers and two lower chambers. The upper chambers are called the

left atriumand the right atrium- the plural of atrium is atria. The two lower chambers are the leftventricleand the right ventricle. When the two upper chambers - the atria - contract at an excessively

high rate, and in an irregular way, the patient hasatrial fibrillation.When the two lower chambers beat

irregularly and flutter, the patient has ventricular fibrillation.

Put simply - atrial fibrillation refers to the two upper heart chambers while ventricular fibrillation refers

to the two lower heart chambers; in either case there abnormally irregular rhythm.

Ventricular fibrillation is more serious than atrial fibrillation. Ventricular fibrillation frequently results in

loss of consciousness and death, because ventriculararrhythmiasare more likely to interrupt the

pumping of blood, or undermine the heart's ability to supply the body with oxygen-rich blood.

Sudden cardiac death (SCD) accounts for about 300,000 deaths annually in the USA, of which 75% to

80% are due to ventricular fibrillation, according to the NIH (National Institutes of Health). The NIH adds

that more deaths are attributable to ventricular fibrillation than to breast,cancer,AIDSorlung cancer.

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Ventricular fibrillation is typically the first expression ofcoronary artery disease(CAD) and is responsible

for approximately 50% of deaths from CAD.

According to Medilexicon'smedical dictionary:

Ventricular fibrillationis "coarse or fine, rapid, fibrillary movements of the ventricular muscle thatreplace the normal contraction."

What are the signs and symptoms of ventricular fibrillation?

A symptom is something the patient senses and describes, while a sign is something other people, such

as the doctor notice. For example, drowsiness may be a symptom while dilated pupils may be a sign.

The most common sign of ventricular fibrillation is:
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Sudden collapse, loss of consciousness or fainting; because the brain and muscles have stopped

receiving blood from the heart.

Early ventricular fibrillation signs and symptoms - approximately an hour before the heart goes into

ventricular fibrillation and the patient faints, the following may be experienced:

Dizziness Nausea Pain in the chest Tachycardia- accelerated heartbeat, palpitations

What are the risk factors for ventricular fibrillation?

A risk factor is something which increases the likelihood of developing a condition or disease. For

example,obesitysignificantly raises the risk of developingdiabetestype 2. Therefore, obesity is a risk

factor for diabetes type 2.

The following risk factors are linked to ventricular fibrillation:

Having had ventricular fibrillation before A previous heart attack Cardiomyopathy - disease of the heart muscle (myocardium) Cocaine and/or methamphetamine use Congenital heart disease- being born with a heart defect Electrocution or other injuries that resulted in heart muscle damage

What are the causes of ventricular fibrillation?

When the human heart beats, electrical impulses that trigger a contraction need to follow a specificroute (pathway) to the heart. If there is something wrong with the path of these impulses, i.e. if there is

an interruption to these impulses, arrhythmia (irregular heartbeat) may occur.

The heart is divided into four hollow chambers - the upper chambers are called the atria (singular:

atrium) and the lower chambers are called the ventricles. The walls of the atria and ventricles are made

virtually of 100% pure muscle. A heartbeat is caused by the tightening of these muscles. When the

muscles tighten the chambers squeeze closed and push out the blood which is inside them.

During a heartbeat the muscular atria (the smaller chambers) contract and fill the relaxed ventricles with

blood. The contraction begins when the sinus node (small group of cells in the right atrium) emits anelectrical impulse which makes the right and left atria contract.

The electrical impulse continues to the center of the heart, to the atrioventricular node. This node is

located on the pathway between the atria and the ventricles. From the atrioventricular node the

impulse travels through the ventricles, making them contract, resulting in blood being pumped out of

the heart and into the body.
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/175241.phphttp://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/175241.phphttp://www.medicalnewstoday.com/info/obesity/how-much-should-i-weigh.phphttp://www.medicalnewstoday.com/info/obesity/how-much-should-i-weigh.phphttp://www.medicalnewstoday.com/info/obesity/how-much-should-i-weigh.phphttp://www.medicalnewstoday.com/info/diabetes/http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/info/diabetes/http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/info/diabetes/http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/181142.phphttp://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/181142.phphttp://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/181142.phphttp://www.medicalnewstoday.com/info/diabetes/http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/info/obesity/how-much-should-i-weigh.phphttp://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/175241.php


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How does ventricular fibrillation start? In the majority of cases ventricular tachycardia occurs.

Ventricular tachycardia is an abnormally rapid heart rhythm that originates from a ventricle. It is caused

by abnormal electrical impulses that travel around a scar which developed from a previous heart attack.

Ventricular tachycardia occurs in patients with some kind of heart defect.

Ventricular tachycardia can occur and then go away about 30 seconds later and cause no symptoms -

this is known as non-sustained ventricular tachycardia. If it continues for more than about 30 seconds it

will generally cause palpitations, dizziness and/or loss of consciousness. If left untreated, ventricular

tachycardia can lead to ventricular fibrillation.

Ventricular fibrillation is when the ventricles quiver uselessly, pumping virtually no blood into the body -

this is caused by disordered electrical impulses. The heart ends up without an effective heartbeat; blood

stops flowing around the body and vital organs, including the brain lose their much needed blood

supply.

A patient with ventricular fibrillation will typically lose consciousness very quickly and will require

immediate, emergency medical assistance, including CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation). If CPR is

delivered until the heart can be shocked back into a normal rhythm with a defibrillator, the patient's

chance of survival are much better.

Diagnosing ventricular fibrillation

Diagnosis of ventricular fibrillation is usually done in emergency circumstances, because most likely the

patient has lost consciousness. The following diagnostic checks can confirm ventricular fibrillation:

A heart monitor- this device reads the electrical impulses that cause the heart to beat and willdetect either no heart beat or an erratic one.

Checking the pulse- the pulse will be difficult to detect, it may either be very weak or not thereat all.

Diagnostic tests to find out what caused the ventricular fibrillation:

ECG (electrocardiogram) - a medical device that monitors the electrical activity of the heartmuscles. Our hearts produce a small electric signal at every beat. A heart specialist (cardiologist)

can use this device to see how well the heart is functioning, whether there is any damage to the

heart muscle, or abnormalities with the heart rhythm. A doctor can tell, when checking the data

coming from the ECG, whether the patient has had a heart attack recently, or even earlier. Heartattack is a common cause of ventricular fibrillation.

Cardiac enzyme test - when a person has a heart attack some enzymes make their way into thebloodstream. A blood test can detect these enzymes. Usually, enzyme blood levels are checked

regularly over a few days.

Chest X-ray- this can be useful to see if the heart has any swelling, or if there is anythingunusual with the heart's blood vessels.


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Nuclear scan- can detect blood flow problems to the heart. Thallium, or some other radioactivematerial is injected into the bloodstream. The radioactive material is detected by special

cameras as it flows through the lungs and heart. This test can detect where areas of reduced

blood flow to the muscles are.

Echocardiogram- This is a type ofultrasoundtest that utilizes high-pitched sound waves thatare sent through a transducer - a wand-like device that is held on the chest. The transducer picks

up echoes of the sound waves as they bounce off different parts of the patient's heart. The data

is presented on a video screen where the doctor can see the heart as it moves. This test can help

a doctor identify underlying structuralheart disease.

Angiogram (coronary catheterization) - a catheter (thin, flexible tube) is introduced into a bloodvessel until it goes through the aorta into the patient's coronary arteries. The catheter usually

enters the body at the groin or arm. A dye is injected through the catheter into the arteries. This

dye stands out on images created by an X-ray and helps doctors detect coronary artery disease

(arteries to the heart that have narrowed).

Cardiac MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) or CT (computed tomography) scan- they canmeasure ejection fraction as well as the heart arteries and valves. They can also determine

whether the patient had a heart attack. These scans are also useful in seeking out unusualheart

failurecauses.

What are the treatment options for ventricular fibrillation?

In emergency treatment, focus is on restoring blood flow to organs throughout the body, including the

brain - in other words, restoring blood flow as soon as possible. When this is done, the patient may

receive treatment to prevent or minimize a recurrence.

Emergency treatments may, and will probably include:

CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) - can restore blood flow through the body. CPR can bedone by anybody with some basic life support training.

Manual chest compressions and mouth-to-mouth

o 30 chest compressions to the heartand then

o Two mouth-to-mouth resuscitation breaths (mouth-to-mouth)Mouth-to-mouth not necessary

Most health care professionals these days say that breathing into the person's mouth is not

necessary. The patient should receive about two compressions per second, or between 100 and

120 per minute - the chest should be allowed to rise back between compressions. This should be

continued until either emergency personnel arrive or somebody comes with a portable

defibrillator.
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Defibrillator- This is a CPS medical device. It sends electric shocks across the patient's chest -the aim is to use electricity to shock the heart back into proper activity. Initially, the electric

shock stops the heart momentarily - but it also stops the chaotic heart rhythm, which usually

restores normal heart rhythm.

A public-use defibrillator can be used by a lay person. These devices often have voice

instructions on their use. A public-use defibrillator is programmed to detect ventricular

fibrillation and emit a shock at the right moment. In most countries, especially industrialized

nations, public-use (portable) defibrillators will be available in public places, such as airports,

major train and bus stations, shopping malls, community centers, places where elderly people

gather, casinos, etc.

Preventing ventricular fibrillation from occurring again

If a physician determines that the ventricular was cause by scarred tissue from a heart attack, or

some structural defect in the heart, medications and medical procedures may be recommended tominimize the risk of recurrence. The following may be recommended:

Medications:o Beta blockersare commonly used to prevent sudden cardiac arrest or ventricular

fibrillation. These drugs make the heart beat more slowly and with less force, thuseasing the heart's workload. They also stabilize the heart's electrical activity.

Examples include metoprolol, propranolol, timolol, and atenolol.

o ACE (angiotensin-converting enzyme) inhibitors- these drugs help ease theworkload on the heart by opening up blood vessels and lowering blood pressure.

Experts say ACE inhibitors also protect the heart from further damage. Patient

will have a blood test to make sure their kidneys are working properly before

starting on this type of medication. Then, about ten days after starting treatment,the patient will undergo further tests to make sure his/her kidneys are still

working fine. Over a period of about 3 weeks the patient's dose is gradually

increased. Examples of ACE inhibitors include lisinopril, perindopril andramipril.

o Amiodarone (Cordarone) orcalciumchannel blockers may also be prescribed. ICD (implantable cardioverter-defibrillator) - this device is placed inside the body. It

is designed to recognize certain types of arrhythmias (abnormal heart rhythms) and

correct them by emitting electric shocks to reset the heart to a normal rhythm.

Coronary angioplasty- this surgical procedure is sometimes necessary in severe casesof coronary artery disease. Angioplasty opens up the coronary artery. A small wire goes

up the artery from the patient's groin or arm and is pushed until it reaches where the clotis in the coronary artery. There is a small balloon, shaped like a sausage, at the end of the

wire. The balloon is placed at the narrowest part of the artery and is then inflated,

squashing the clot away. A flexible metal mesh, called a stent, is then placed there tokeep that part of the artery open.

CABG (Coronary artery bypass graft) - the damaged blood vessel is by-passed withgrafts taken from blood vessels elsewhere in the body. The bypass effectively goesaround the blocked area of the artery, allowing blood to pass through into the heart
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muscle. If blood supply to the heart is improved, the risk of ventricular fibrillation goes

down.

Ventricular tachycardia ablation- catheters are inserted through a vein, usually in thegroin and threaded to the heart, to correct structural heart problems that cause an

arrhythmia. The aim is to clear the signal pathway (of electrical impulses) so that the

heart may beat normally again. Put simply, tissue that blocks the electrical signal is eitherdestroyed or scarred.

Investigations

ventricular fibrillation 2010

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