V Fib Rhythm Strip
Atrial fibrillation afib and ventricular fibrillation vfib are both a type of abnormal heart rhythm arrhythmia.
V fib rhythm strip. Vf can rapidly lead to heart muscle ischemia and there is a high likelihood that it will deteriorate into asystole. Atrial fibrillation is caused by irregular electrical impulses in the atria and ventricular fibrillation is caused by irregular electrical impulses in the ventricles. To focus on a specific arrhythmia category use the buttons below. Ventricular fibrillation results in cardiac arrest with loss of consciousness and no pulse.
If it is fine v fib you may terminate the rhythm. For each arrhythmia we include a sample rhythm strip as well as a summary of important attributes. If in doubt it is acceptable to deliver a shock. The ventricular motion of vf is not synchronized with atrial contractions.
A fib is the most common type of irregular heart rhythm. Ventricular fibrillation is initially found in about 10 of. This is followed by death in the absence of treatment. Ventricular fibrillation v fib or vf is an abnormal heart rhythm in which the ventricles of the heart quiver instead of pumping normally.
However if the rhythm is asystole defibrillation will be ineffective. Ventricular fibrillation or v fib is considered the most serious cardiac rhythm disturbance. Instead in several areas inside the atria form groups of excitable cells generate electrical impulses that fire simultaneously and spread throughout the atria causing a short circuiting effect see above. Fine v fib is sometimes mistaken for asystole.
This rapid and irregular electrical activity renders the ventricles unable to contract in a synchronised manner resulting in immediate loss of cardiac output. The electrical impulses do not travel in an orderly fashion through the atria as with normal conduction sinus rhythm. Ventricular fibrillation vf and pulseless ventricular tachycardia vt are life threatening cardiac rhythms that result in ineffective ventricular contractions. The two images show what ventricular fibrillation will look like on an ekg rhythm strip.
As the treatments for asystole and ventricular fibrillation are different it is important to differentiate between the two. It is due to disorganized electrical activity. The ventricles suddenly attempt to contract at rates of up to 500 bpm. This prohibits the heart from pumping blood causing collapse and cardiac arrest.
These features include observing p wave forms measurement of ekg intervals and segments assessment of rhythm calculating heart rate and the evaluation of other relevant wave segments. Ventricular fibrillation vf is the the most important shockable cardiac arrest rhythm. Symptoms of both afib and vfib are shortness of breath dizziness nausea and chest pain. Disordered electrical activity causes the heart s lower chambers ventricles to quiver or fibrillate instead of contracting or beating normally.