In which rhythm is defibrillation indicated?

In which rhythm is defibrillation indicated?

• A. Ventricular Fibrillation.
• B. Atrial fibrillation.
• C. Normal sinus rhythm.
• D. Ventricular tachycardia with a pulse.

Answer: (A)

Defibrillation is used for rhythms where there is no organized electrical activity and no effective cardiac output, delivered as an unsynchronized high-energy shock to reset the heart’s rhythm. The rhythm that requires this non-synchronized shock is ventricular fibrillation, a chaotic, rapid, ineffective rhythm seen in cardiac arrest. Shocking VF can halt the disordered electrical activity and allow the heart to resume a coordinated rhythm. Atrial fibrillation involves irregular atrial activity but usually preserves some ventricular flow; if unstable, the treatment is synchronized cardioversion, not defibrillation. Normal sinus rhythm is already a coordinated, perfusing rhythm, so no shock is indicated. Ventricular tachycardia with a pulse has a measurable pulse and organized activity; it’s typically treated with synchronized cardioversion or other therapies rather than defibrillation. Defibrillation is reserved for rhythms without a pulse, like ventricular fibrillation (and pulseless VT).

Defibrillation is used for rhythms where there is no organized electrical activity and no effective cardiac output, delivered as an unsynchronized high-energy shock to reset the heart’s rhythm. The rhythm that requires this non-synchronized shock is ventricular fibrillation, a chaotic, rapid, ineffective rhythm seen in cardiac arrest. Shocking VF can halt the disordered electrical activity and allow the heart to resume a coordinated rhythm.

Atrial fibrillation involves irregular atrial activity but usually preserves some ventricular flow; if unstable, the treatment is synchronized cardioversion, not defibrillation. Normal sinus rhythm is already a coordinated, perfusing rhythm, so no shock is indicated. Ventricular tachycardia with a pulse has a measurable pulse and organized activity; it’s typically treated with synchronized cardioversion or other therapies rather than defibrillation. Defibrillation is reserved for rhythms without a pulse, like ventricular fibrillation (and pulseless VT).