Ventricular Fibrillation Definition, Reason, Symptoms, Treatment & Prevention
Understanding
Ventricular fibrillation is a heart rhythm disturbance in the form of a rapid heartbeat with erratic electrical activity. This results in the pumping chamber of the heart only vibrating and not pumping blood around the body properly. Sometimes triggered by a heart attack, ventricular fibrillation causes blood pressure to drop dramatically and results in the blood supply to vital organs being cut off.
Ventricular fibrillation is an emergency condition that requires immediate medical attention because sufferers can lose consciousness in seconds. This condition is even one of the causes of death which is quite frequent due to heart disease.
Emergency treatment for ventricular fibrillation includes cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and the use of a defibrillator (a device that stimulates the heart rate with high-voltage electricity) according to the existing algorithm. Someone who is at risk of experiencing ventricular fibrillation usually needs to undergo medication and use implanted devices that can return the heart rhythm to normal.
Symptoms
Loss of consciousness is one of the most common signs of ventricular fibrillation. The condition of ventricular tachycardia, which is a very fast heart rate due to abnormal electrical activity in the heart’s ventricles, can also cause ventricular fibrillation.
Some of the signs and symptoms of ventricular tachycardia are:
- Chest pain
- fast heart rate (tachycardia)
- Feeling dizzy
- Nauseous
- Hard to breathe
- Loss of consciousness
Risk factors that can increase a person’s chances of experiencing ventricular fibrillation are:
- History of previous episodes of ventricular fibrillation
- Prior history of heart disease
- Congenital heart defects
- Abnormalities of the heart muscle (cardiomyopathy)
- Injury that has the potential to cause damage to the heart muscle, such as electric shock
- Use of illegal drugs, such as cocaine or methamphetamine
- Imbalance of electrolytes in the body, such as magnesium or potassium
Reason
The cause of ventricular fibrillation is not always known. One of the most common causes is an interruption of the electric current that takes place in the heart after a person has had a heart attack in the past. Or, it could be due to another problem that causes scar tissue to form in the heart muscle from a previous heart attack.
Occasionally, ventricular fibrillation can also be preceded by a very fast heart rate, which is known as ventricular tachycardia. This rapid but continuous pumping of the heart is caused by an abnormal electrical current that begins in the ventricles. Most cases of ventricular fibrillation are related to a previous heart problem.
Diagnosis
Ventricular fibrillation is an emergency condition. Doctors can tell that a person has ventricular fibrillation from the following tests:
- Heart monitoring. Heart monitors that detect the heart’s electrical currents can show if the heart is beating erratically or not beating at all.
- Pulse check. In ventricular fibrillation, the pulse may not be felt.
To determine the cause of ventricular fibrillation, there are several additional tests that are usually done, such as:
- Electrocardiogram (EKG). This examination records the electrical activity of the heart through electrodes attached to the skin. Because injured heart muscle does not normally conduct electricity to the heart, an EKG can show an ongoing heart attack or a history of previous heart attacks.
- Blood test. This examination is done to see if there is an increase in cardiac enzymes that enter the bloodstream. This enzyme appears when there is heart muscle that is damaged by a heart attack.
- Chest X-ray. This examination uses X-rays to make an image of the heart. The goal is to evaluate the size and shape of the heart and great vessels.
- Echocardiogram. This test uses sound waves to show imaging of the heart.
- Coronary Catheterization. This examination is done to evaluate the presence of coronary arteries, which are potential narrowing or blockages in the blood vessels that supply blood to the heart.
- Computerized Tomography (CT) scan or Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). Both of these tests can be done to diagnose heart defects.
Treatment
Emergency treatment of ventricular fibrillation aims to restore blood flow throughout the body as early as possible to prevent damage to the brain and other organs. After the blood flow to the heart returns to normal, if needed, there are several treatment options that can be done to prevent recurring episodes of ventricular fibrillation.
Emergency treatment for ventricular fibrillation is:
- Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). This treatment can keep blood flowing in the body by resembling the pumping motion of the heart.
- Defibrillation. Defibrillation is performed by administering an electrical current through the chest wall that will momentarily stop the irregular cardiac activity. This is done to restore a normal heart rhythm. Defibrillators can be performed according to existing indications and algorithms.
Prevention
If the doctor finds that the ventricular fibrillation you are experiencing is caused by changes in the structure of the heart, the doctor will recommend undergoing medication or medical procedures to reduce the risk of developing ventricular fibrillation in the future. For example due to scar tissue after a heart attack.
Some treatment options to prevent recurrence of ventricular fibrillation are:
- Treatment. The doctor will prescribe various antiarrhythmic drugs, which aim to prevent irregular heart rhythms from occurring. One class of drugs that doctors can prescribe are beta blockers, which are generally used in individuals who are at risk of experiencing ventricular fibrillation.
- Defibrillator implantation. Once the condition is stable, the doctor may recommend implanting a defibrillator device to monitor the heart rhythm. If the heart rhythm is considered too slow, this tool can send an electrical signal to accelerate the heart.
- Coronary angioplasty and stenting. This procedure is intended to treat severe coronary heart disease. The technique is to open blocked blood vessels to improve blood flow to the heart muscle.