Ventricular Fibrillation (VF/vfib) Treatment in Delhi, India

Ventricular fibrillation (VF or v-fib) is an arrhythmia or severely abnormal rhythm of the heart, because of which the heart fails to pump blood to the rest of the body.

Alternative Names of Ventricular Fibrillation (VF)

Ventricular fibrillation, also called v-fib or the most severe form of arrhythmia.

Ventricular Fibrillation Causes

Lack of oxygen or enough blood flow to the heart muscle can make it electrically unstable, causing severe and abnormal heart rhythms. The cause of VF is not always known, but it mainly occurs during a heart attack or just after a heart attack. Besides, a previous history of heart problems and certain underlying medical conditions can cause VF. Here are some causes of VF.

• Heart attack or angina
• Congenital heart disease (present at birth)
• Heart muscle disease (muscle becomes weak, stretched, or thickened)
• Heart surgery
• Heart injury
• Electrolyte abnormalities related to potassium or sodium
• Adverse effects of certain medications
• Genetic disorders associated with hearts ion channels
• Electrocution accidents.

Ventricular Fibrillation Symptoms

The most common symptom of VF is loss of consciousness. Besides, a person may experience

• Transient dizziness or near fainting
• Fainting
• Chest pain
• Acute shortness of breath
• Very fast heartbeat (tachycardia)
• Nausea

Types of Ventricular Fibrillation

On ECG, ventricular fibrillation appears as a wave of peaks and valleys. Depending on their appearance, you can classify VF as coarse and fine.

Coarse Ventricular Fibrillation

In strong VF, the peaks are tall, and valleys are more profound. This type is associated with survival and better outcomes.

Fine Ventricular Fibrillation

The peaks are short, and valleys are shallow in fine ventricular fibrillation.

Refractory Ventricular Fibrillation

It occurs when ventricular fibrillation continues even after three consecutive shocks from a defibrillator.

Ventricular Fibrillation Diagnosis

The differential diagnosis of VF includes:

• Ventricular arrhythmia
• Ventricular tachycardia (V-tach)
• Premature ventricular contractions (PVCs)
• Asystole
• Wide complex tachycardia (WCT)
• Torsade de Pointes
• Atrial fibrillation (A-fib)
• Atrial flutter
• Polymorphic ventricular tachycardia
• Pulseless electrical activity

Ventricular Fibrillation (vfib) Tests

While interpreting VF, a doctor will consider:

• Your overall health and ventricular fibrillation symptoms
• Your vitals; blood pressure, heart rate, and pulse
• Heart function tests like ECG (electrocardiogram)
• Blood tests to check heart damage
• X-rays, CT scans, MRI exams, and ECGs

Ventricular Fibrillation Treatment

The VF treatment involves stopping your Ventricular fibrillation immediately and restoring your pulse and blood pressure. Treatment includes:

Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) will help keep your blood moving.

Defibrillation

It is required during or immediately after the VF. Electric shock by defibrillation can help correct signals, fixing your heart rhythm.

Medication

Doctors prescribe medications immediately after VF to control and prevent its recurrence, like those used to control arrhythmia, thereby decreasing your risk over time.

Catheter Ablation Surgery

Targets specific areas of the heart to eliminate electrical triggers causing VF.

Implantable and Wearable Defibrillators

To prevent its recurrence in the long term.

Left Cardiac Sympathetic Denervation

For specific cases.

Risk Factors of Ventricular Fibrillation

Factors that increase your risk of VF include:

• Previous heart attack
• History of VF
• Weakened heart muscle
• Medications affecting heart function
• Abnormal levels of potassium, magnesium, or sodium
• Genetic diseases like hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, long or short QT syndrome, or Brugada disease
• Drug toxicity
• Smoking
• High blood pressure, diabetes.

Complications of Ventricular Fibrillation

The complications usually depend on how soon you receive the treatment. Yet possible serious complications include:

• Repeated episodes of fainting
• Poor blood circulation and damage to vital organs
• Heart muscle Injury
• Injuries resulting from CPR
• Skin burns because of defibrillation
• Brain injury from a lack of oxygen
• Cardiac arrest
• Death

Ventricular Fibrillation Prevention

You can’t entirely prevent an episode of ventricular fibrillation. But you can decrease its possibility by:

• Diagnosing and treating underlying medical conditions that can cause VF
• Medications that help manage unusual heart rhythms (like arrhythmia medications)
• Devices like implantable cardiac defibrillators
• Following a healthy lifestyle with adequate exercise and a nutritious diet.

Epidemiology of Ventricular Fibrillation (vfib)

• VF is responsible for approximately 50% of deaths from CAD.
• Out of three lakh cases of sudden cardiac death caused by ventricular fibrillation in the US, one-third are attributed to ventricular fibrillation.
• VF is observed in around 0.08% to 0.16% of the adult population and 0.001% to 0.008% of the pediatric and adolescent age group, accounting for 5% of deaths every year.
• Most data states that VF is more likely to affect the black population than white individuals.
• VF is more likely to affect men than women (3:1).

Expected Prognosis of Ventricular Fibrillation

The chances of surviving an episode of ventricular fibrillation depend on bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), instant availability of arrival of personnel, required apparatus for defibrillation, life support, and transport to a hospital. The survival rate ranges from 17% (out of hospital) and 46% (for patients in the hospital).

Although in cases of nontraumatic cardiac arrest, patients are more likely to be successfully resuscitated from VF than in other cases of arrhythmia, success is highly time-dependent. The success rate declines by 2% to 10% with every minute.

Pathophysiology of Ventricular Fibrillation

Your heart comprises four chambers; two bottom chambers are ventricles. A healthy heart pumps the blood evenly in and out of these chambers and keeps the blood flowing throughout the body. Arrhythmia (irregular heartbeat), which starts in the ventricles, is known as VF. Ventricular fibrillation occurs when a lack of oxygen or blood supply to your heart muscle causes your ventricles to fibrillate (uncontrolled twitching or quivering) instead of pumping the blood. As a result, the heart cannot pump blood into your body.

Natural Progression of Ventricular Fibrillation

The heart pumps the blood to the lungs, brain, and other vital organs. Ventricular fibrillation causes rapid, erratic heartbeats, and the heart fails to pump the blood to your body. This causes a sudden and notable drop in blood pressure. The lack of blood supply increases the risk of damage to the brain and other organs. This results in fainting, cardiac arrest, or sudden cardiac death within a few minutes.

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