Ventricular Fibrillation

What is Ventricular Fibrillation?

The ventricles are the large lower chambers of the heart. They are responsible for moving blood to the organs and tissues of the body. In ventricular fibrillation, the heart’s ventricles contract in a rapid and chaotic manner. As a result, little or no blood is pumped from the heart. Unless emergency medical help is provided immediately, ventricular fibrillation will lead to cardiovascular collapse and sudden death.

Blood flow through heart

Causes, Risk Factors & Symptoms of Ventricular Fibrillation

Causes of ventricular fibrillation include:

Inadequate blood flow to the heart due to coronary artery disease (CAD)
Scar tissue within the heart due to previous injury to heart, such as a heart attack
Heart failure
Infection of the heart muscle – myocarditis
Shock
Electrical shock
Drowning
Dangerously low body temperature – hypothermia
Electrolyte imbalance
Drugs that affect the electrical currents of the heart, such as sodium or potassium channel blockers
Low atmospheric oxygen

Risk Factors for Ventricular Fibrillation

Ventricular fibrillation is most commonly associated with CAD. Factors that can increase risk of CAD will also increase the risk of ventricular fibrillation. These include:

CAD
Heart failure
Heart arrhythmias – especially multiple premature ventricular beats
Previous heart attack
Previous ventricular fibrillation
High blood pressure
Diabetes
Smoking
Excessive use of alcohol
Drug abuse
Stress
High cholesterol
Obesity
A high-fat diet
A family history of cardiovascular disease
Advancing age

Symptoms of Ventricular Fibrillation

Ventricular fibrillation happens without warning. When it occurs, symptoms may include:

Loss of consciousness within seconds
Sudden collapse
Seizures
Loss of color in the skin
Dilated pupils
No detectable pulse, heartbeat, or blood pressure

Diagnosing & Treatment for Ventricular Fibrillation

Diagnosing Ventricular Fibrillation

Ventricular fibrillation is suspected when a person collapses suddenly and has no detectable pulse or heartbeat. The diagnosis is confirmed by electrocardiography (EKG). EKG records the heart’s activity by measuring electrical currents through the heart muscle.

Treating Ventricular Fibrillation

Ventricular fibrillation must be treated as an extreme emergency and treatment must be administered within four to six minutes.

Medical Drug Therapy

Medications may be used to:

Slow the heart rate
Keep the heart in a regular rhythm
Prevent clot formation

Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)

CPR, which begins with giving chest compressions, is a temporary procedure that can help maintain some blood flow to the brain, heart, and other vital organs until trained medical personnel are available to provide more advanced treatment.

Defibrillation

In defibrillation, an electronic device is used to give an electric shock to the heart. The electric shock helps to re-establish the normal contraction rhythms of the heart. An automated external defibrillator (AED) is a portable defibrillation device. Most ambulances carry AEDs. They are also frequently found in many public places, such as sports complexes and restaurants. Defibrillation should be done as soon as equipment is available.

Procedures Performed by St. Elizabeth's Medical Center's Electrophysiology Services

Cardioversion. This procedure uses an electrical current or drugs to help normalize the heart rhythm.
Catheter Ablation. An area of the heart that is responsible for atrial fibrillation may be surgically removed or altered.
Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator. An implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) can be surgically placed in the chest to help prevent ventricular fibrillation. An ICD continuously monitors the heart’s rhythm. If it detects an abnormal beat, it automatically sends electrical impulses to restore the heart’s normal rhythm.

How to Prevent Ventricular Fibrillation

To help reduce your chance of ventricular fibrillation:

Lower your risk of CAD:
- Eat a healthful diet, one that is low in saturated fat and rich in whole grains, fruits, and vegetables.
- Exercise regularly.
- If you are overweight, lose weight.
- If you smoke, talk to your doctor about how to successfully quit.
Avoid or limit your intake of caffeine, alcohol, and other substances that may contribute to arrhythmias or heart disease.
Avoid unnecessary stress, and try to manage or control stressful situations that cannot be avoided.

If you have a family history of this condition, see your doctor. He can evaluate your risk. If a person is at high risk of ventricular fibrillation, an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) can be surgically placed in the chest to help stop ventricular fibrillation. In addition, anti-arrhythmic drugs may be given to try to prevent a future episode.