V Fib Treatment Algorithm
The treatment of vf and pulseless vt ventricular fibrillation and pulseless ventricular tachycardia is included in the cardiac arrest algorithm.
V fib treatment algorithm. The appropriate adult cardiac arrest algorithm to use for ventricular fibrillation vf. Asystole and pea are also included in the cardiac arrest algorithm but are non shockable rhythms. The treatment of such an arrhythmia is included in the acls pulseless arrest algorithm. 1 ventricular fibrillation treatment starts with early and effective cpr with the application of oxygen and monitor defibrillator placement.
Ventricular fibrillation results in cardiac arrest with loss of consciousness and no pulse. Ventricular fibrillation is a shockable rhythms and is treated in a similarly to ventricular tachycardia vt. Vf is the most commonly identified arrhythmia in cardiac arrest patients. Ventricular fibrillation falls under the acls adult cardiac arrest algorithm and is the most important algorithm to know for adult resuscitation.
Keeping the brain heart and other vital organs perfused is very important in an arrest. After blood flow is restored through your heart if necessary you ll have treatment options to help prevent future episodes of ventricular fibrillation. This prohibits the heart from pumping blood causing collapse and cardiac arrest. 2016 esc guidelines for the management of atrial fibrillation developed in collaboration with eacts.
Disordered electrical activity causes the heart s lower chambers ventricles to quiver or fibrillate instead of contracting or beating normally. Kirchhof p benussi s kotecha d et al. It is due to disorganized electrical activity. Ventricular fibrillation or v fib is considered the most serious cardiac rhythm disturbance.
Vf and pulseless vt are shockable rhythms and treated in similar fashion. Ventricular fibrillation vf is a life threatening cardiac arrhythmia in which the coordinated contraction of the ventricular myocardium is replaced by high frequency disorganized excitation resulting in failure of the heart to pump blood. It is the most common arrhythmia and a major source of morbidity and. Emergency treatments for ventricular fibrillation focus on restoring blood flow through your body as quickly as possible to prevent damage to your brain and other organs.
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. Initial management with a rate control strategy aiming to control ventricular rate but with no commitment to restore or maintain sinus rhythm depends on the severity and duration of symptoms and is individualised for each patient.