What is ventricular fibrillation?

A cardiac arrhythmia is a disturbance of the normal heart rhythm known as sinus rhythm. Ventricular fibrillation (VF) is a type of arrhythmia characterized by a very fast heart rate (tachyarrhythmia) and the complete absence of effective contractions of the ventricles which causes blood does not reach vital organs causing cardiac arrest. It is important to know that it is a very serious arrhythmia that can lead to death if it is not treated urgently. It is one of the most frequent causes of death after a myocardial infarction.

How is it produced?

Under normal conditions, the heart contracts rhythmically and synchronously. This contraction is the result of an electrical impulse that is generated in the atrium, reaches the ventricle and results in a heartbeat. In an arrhythmia there is a alteration of this mechanism which leads to the heart not contracting regularly, generating a rhythm disorder. The contraction of the ventricles pumps blood to the rest of the body. In ventricular fibrillation the heart rate is very fast and chaotic (up to 300 beats per minute) and is characterized by not being able to cause an effective heartbeat. Thus, the lack of contraction of the ventricles causes blood to barely be pumped from the heart producing a collapse of the cardiovascular system and cardiac arrest.

The most common cause of VF is heart disease, mainly coronary artery diseases and myocardial infarction. Diseases that cause metabolic disturbances Serious such as lack of oxygen or electrolyte imbalance can trigger these types of arrhythmias.

Common symptoms

VF manifests suddenly, with no pulse, heartbeat and blood pressure, the absence of blood flow causes in the patient loss of consciousness, waste of skin coloration Y dilation of the pupils.

Diagnosis and treatment

When the symptoms described appear and in the presence of an unconscious patient, the diagnosis is confirmed with the electrocardiogram showing a characteristic recording of the chaotic activity of the ventricle and with the verification of the absence of vital signs.

Treatment

Ventricular fibrillation should be treated as an extreme medical emergency and treatment should be started immediately. If VF is suspected, urgent medical help should be sought. The indicated treatment is cardioversion. Through a electrical device called a defibrillator external An electrical shock of a specified intensity is delivered to the heart to try to regain a normal heart rhythm. Immediate cardioversion can be very effective if the heart is not severely damaged. In many public places (such as airports, sports complexes) there are defibrillators for public use in case of emergency.

In addition, they should be started immediately maneuvers called cardiopulmonary resuscitation in order to restore the respiratory and cardiac function of the patient and thus maintain the blood supply to the brain. These maneuvers are a combination of regular chest compressions along with air insufflations into the patient's mouth. As soon as possible, hospital life support measures will be continued, including:

• Orotracheal intubation and ventilation of the patient.
• Monitoring (control) of vital signs: heart rate and rhythm, respiratory rate, blood pressure and blood oxygen concentration.
• Administration of drugs IV (such as adrenaline) to restore and maintain heart rate and blood pressure.
• The prognosis and recovery of the patient, especially at the cerebral level, will depend on the speed with which the treatment is established that allows the reestablishment of blood flow to the different territories of the body, the most sensitive is the brain. Therefore, it is a medical emergency that requires immediate attention and referral to a hospital.

Prevent cardiac arrest

Carry one healthy lifestyleAvoiding alcohol, tobacco, drugs, and stress helps prevent heart disease. It is very important for the prognosis and survival of the patient to establish treatment as soon as possible. In patients at risk of this type of arrhythmia, a device called implantable cardioverter defibrillator It controls the heart rhythm and allows it to restore itself if it detects an episode of VF.