Ventricular Fibrillation

This is part of: Ventricular Arrhythmias

Ventricular Fibrillation (VF or V-fib)
{{{locatieafbeelding}}}
Atrial rate	60-100 bpm
Ventricular rate	400-600 bpm
Regularity	irregular
Origin	ventricles
P-wave	AV-dissociation
Effect of adenosine	none
Example ECG: {{{example}}}
Example ECG2: {{{example2}}}

Ventricular fibrillation (VF or V-fib) is chaotic depolarisation of the ventricles. Mechanically this results in an arrested cardiac pump function and immediate death. VF can only be treated by immediate defibrillation. If you consider ventricular fibrillation in a conscious patient, than you should look for a technical problem with the ECG, eg. movement or electrical interference. A comprehensive history of research into ventricular fibrillation has been written by Jalife.[1]

Examples

• 

  Ventricular Fibrillation (VF or V-fib)

• 

  VF develops in a patient with an inferior MI

• 

  Seven sinus beats are follow by a ventricular extrasystole (with R on T phenomenon), resulting in ventricular fibrillation

References

1. Jalife J. Ventricular fibrillation: mechanisms of initiation and maintenance. Annu Rev Physiol. 2000;62:25-50. DOI:10.1146/annurev.physiol.62.1.25 |