Ventricular fibrillation (V-fib) is a dangerous type of arrhythmia, or irregular heartbeat. It affects your heart’s ventricles. Your heart is a muscle system that contains 4 chambers. The 2 bottom chambers are the ventricles. In a healthy heart, your blood pumps evenly in and out of these chambers. This keeps blood flowing throughout your body. Show
Ventricular fibrillation is an arrhythmia that starts in your ventricle. This occurs when the electrical signals that tell your heart muscle to pump cause your ventricles to quiver (fibrillate) instead. The quivering means that your heart is not pumping blood out to the rest of your body. In some people, V-fib may happen several times a day. This is called an electrical storm. Sustained V-fib can lead to sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) and/or sudden cardiac death (SCD). It needs immediate medical care. What causes ventricular fibrillation?The cause of V-fib isn't always known but it can occur with certain medical conditions. V-fib most commonly occurs during an acute heart attack or shortly thereafter. When heart muscle doesn't get enough blood flow, it can become electrically unstable and cause dangerous heart rhythms. A heart that has been damaged by a heart attack or other heart muscle damage is vulnerable to V-fib. Other causes include heart failure, heart valve disease, low potassium level or other electrolyte abnormalities, certain medicines, and certain genetic diseases that affect the heart's ion channels or electrical conduction. Who is at risk for ventricular fibrillation?The most common risk factors include:
What are the symptoms of ventricular fibrillation?Symptoms of V-fib include:
How is ventricular fibrillation diagnosed?Because V-fib usually elicits a loss of consciousness, it's often diagnosed in an acute emergency. To diagnose V-fib, your healthcare provider (often emergency services) will consider:
How is ventricular fibrillation treated?There are two stages of treatment for V-fib. The first tries to stops your V-fib immediately to restore a blood pressure and pulse. The second stage focuses on reducing your chances of developing V-fib in the future. Treatment includes:
What are possible complications of ventricular fibrillation?Complications include the possibility of repeat episodes of fainting or near fainting. During an episode of V-fib, there is poor blood circulation to all of your body's vital organs. After a prolonged V-fib episode or cardiac arrest, damage involving your neurological system, kidneys, and liver may occur. This damage may be permanent or reversible. V-fib can also be fatal. What can I do to prevent ventricular fibrillation?Prevention focuses on diagnosing and treating the underlying medical conditions that cause V-fib. Certain medicines can be used to reduce the risk of recurrence. Implantable ICDs may also be used. An ICD is a device implanted within the body that can shock the heart back to normal rhythm within seconds if V-fib is present. Although this device doesn't necessarily prevent V-fib, it can rapidly and automatically diagnose and treat this potentially fatal heart rhythm. If you're at risk for V-fib, you should wear a medical ID and let friends and loved ones know what to do in an emergency. Talk with them about when to call 911 and encourage them to learn how to use a defibrillator. How can I manage ventricular fibrillation?If you have had V-fib, or are at high risk for it, follow your healthcare provider's advice for taking medicine to control the arrhythmia. It's also helpful to discuss other more invasive options, such as an ICD or surgery, to prevent V-fib. Teach your friends and family about how to respond if you collapse and stop breathing. When should I call my healthcare provider?It's very important to make sure that people around you know what to do in an emergency. Someone should call 911 right away if you have any of these symptoms of V-fib:
Key points about ventricular fibrillation
Next stepsTips to help you get the most from a visit to your healthcare provider:
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