Ventricular Fibrillation

Question 1

What is Ventricular Fibrillation (VF)?

Answer 1

A deadly arrhythmia where chaotic electrical signals cause the ventricles to quiver instead of contracting, stopping effective blood circulation.

Question 2

What happens to cardiac output in VF?

Answer 2

Cardiac output collapses completely → no blood is pumped → leads to death if untreated.

Question 3

What do you see on an ECG in VF?

Answer 3

Chaotic, irregular, squiggly fibrillatory waves with no organised QRS, P, or T waves.

Question 4

What are the two main types of VF waves?

Answer 4

• Coarse VF: Large, high-amplitude fibrillatory waves (better chance of successful defibrillation).
• Fine VF: Low-amplitude fibrillatory waves (worse prognosis, looks closer to asystole).

Question 5

What ECG features are absent in VF?

Answer 5

No P waves, no QRS complexes, no PR intervals, and no T waves.

Question 6

What are common causes of VF?

Answer 6

• Structural heart disease / MI
• Electrolyte imbalance (K⁺, Mg²⁺)
• Hypoxia
• Drug overdose

Question 7

Why is VF considered immediately life-threatening?

Answer 7

Because the heart is not pumping blood, the patient becomes unresponsive and pulseless → death occurs within minutes if untreated.

Question 8

What are the classic clinical signs of VF?

Answer 8

Unresponsive

Question 9

What are the classic clinical signs of VF?

Answer 9

• Unresponsive
• No pulse
• No effective breathing

Question 10

What is the first step in VF management?

Answer 10

Call emergency response, start CPR, and prepare defibrillation.

Question 11

What is the definitive treatment for VF?

Answer 11

Immediate defibrillation (unsynchronised shock) + CPR.

Question 12

Which drugs can be given during VF resuscitation?

Answer 12

Epinephrine, amiodarone, or lidocaine.

Question 13

What is done post-resuscitation if patient survives VF?

Answer 13

Consider implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) to prevent recurrence.

Question 14

What else should be done alongside defibrillation and drugs?

Answer 14

Secure airway, provide oxygen, and follow ACLS algorithm.

Question 15

Which type of VF has the best prognosis for revival?

Answer 15

Coarse VF (because the fibrillatory waves show some remaining myocardial activity).

Question 16

What condition does VF often progress into if untreated?

Answer 16

Asystole (flatline, no electrical activity).