ventricular fibrillation
Heart's fatal quiver
Ventricular fibrillation is a life-threatening heart rhythm in which the lower chambers quiver chaotically instead of pumping blood.
Without immediate treatment—typically electrical defibrillation—it causes death within minutes.
The condition often triggers cardiac arrest: The patient went into ventricular fibrillation and required emergency shocking.
Commonly abbreviated V-fib or VF.
Electric cardiac rhythm reset
- shockViolent sudden disturbance
- AEDAutomated shock device
- paddlesHandheld water propulsion tools
- joulesSI energy units
biphasic · cardioversion · CPR · chest compressions · epinephrine · lidocaine · antiarrhythmic · ROSC
Abrupt cessation of circulation
- sudden cardiac deathAbrupt heart failure causing demise
- code blueHospital cardiac arrest signal
- collapseSudden structural failure
- syncopeTemporary loss of consciousness
911 · paramedics · first responders · ambulance · emergency room · resuscitation · critical condition · ICU
Abnormal cardiac rhythm
- quiveringShaking slightly and rapidly
- myocardiumMuscular tissue of heart
- cardiac muscleHeart wall tissue
- ischemiaInsufficient tissue blood supply
hypoxia · electrolyte imbalance · cardiomyopathy · myocardial infarction · heart attack · coronary artery disease · depolarization · repolarization
Heart's electrical activity record
- ECGCardiac electrical recording
- EKGCardiac electrical recording
- monitorDisplay or supervisor
- waveformGraphed oscillation pattern
pulseless · unresponsive · cardiac monitoring · telemetry · electrophysiology · asystole · flatline
defibrillation
Electric cardiac rhythm reset
joules · biphasic · cardioversion · CPR · chest compressions · epinephrine · lidocaine · antiarrhythmic · ROSC · ICD
cardiac arrest
Abrupt cessation of circulation
- sudden cardiac deathAbrupt heart failure causing demise
- code blueHospital cardiac arrest signal
- collapseSudden structural failure
syncope · 911 · paramedics · first responders · ambulance · emergency room · resuscitation · critical condition · ICU · intensive care
arrhythmia
Abnormal cardiac rhythm
- quiveringShaking slightly and rapidly
- myocardiumMuscular tissue of heart
- cardiac muscleHeart wall tissue
ischemia · hypoxia · electrolyte imbalance · cardiomyopathy · myocardial infarction · heart attack · coronary artery disease · depolarization · repolarization · electrical storm
electrocardiogram
Heart's electrical activity record
waveform · pulseless · unresponsive · cardiac monitoring · telemetry · electrophysiology · asystole · flatline
ventricular, fibrillation, ventricle, ventricles, fibrillate, fibrillating, ventral, venter, fibre