ventricular fibrillation
Ventricular fibrillation is a heart rhythm problem in which the heart beats rapidly and chaotically This causes the ventricles to contract aimlessly, during which the main function of pumping blood is impaired. Sometimes, ventricular fibrillation is caused by myocardial infarction During ventricular fibrillation, blood does not reach the important organs of the body normally
Ventricular fibrillation is an emergency that requires immediate intervention This condition causes loss of consciousness in a few seconds Ventricular fibrillation is the most common cause of sudden cardiac death Emergency care includes cardiopulmonary resuscitation, cardiac defibrillation
Patients at high risk of ventricular fibrillation are treated with drugs and implanted defibrillators.
To better understand ventricular fibrillation, it is necessary to explain the mechanisms of normal heartbeat
Normal heartbeat When the heart contracts, electrical impulses travel in a specific way A change in the distribution of impulses causes an irregular heartbeat - arrhythmia
The heart is divided into four cells Two main parts of the heart make up the pumping structure, namely the upper chambers receive the blood and the lower ventricles contract and pump it.
During the heartbeat, the smaller, less muscular upper atria contract and fill the resting ventricles with blood. Before contraction, the impulse originates in the sinus node, which is located in the right atrium, and from there spreads to the rest of the heart
The impulse then travels to the center of the heart, to the atrioventricular node, which is located between the atria and ventricles. From here, the impulse is transmitted to the ventricles, which causes them to contract and blood to move throughout the body
What causes ventricular fibrillation? The cause of ventricular fibrillation is not always known. The most common problem is the spread of electrical impulses, after a myocardial infarction or due to the formation of a scar in the heart.
Some cases of ventricular fibrillation begin as ventricular tachycardia This rapid, irregular rhythm is caused by improper propagation of impulses At this time, the impulses come from the ventricles
Ventricular tachycardia usually develops in people with heart disease, for example after heart muscle scarring or infarction Sometimes, tachycardia lasts less than 30 seconds and causes no symptoms However, tachycardia can be associated with serious problems If the valvular tachycardia lasts longer than 30 seconds, you have fluttering, dizziness or fainting symptoms, you need to get treatment Without treatment, the risk of ventricular fibrillation increases
Ventricular fibrillation is mainly associated with any heart disease
Loss of consciousness is the most common symptom of ventricular fibrillation
Early signs and symptoms A condition in which the ventricles contract too quickly (ventricular tachycardia) may cause ventricular fibrillation Signs and symptoms include:
- chest pain
- rapid heart rate-tachycardia
- dizziness
- nausea
- respiratory failure
- loss of consciousness
Compress the patient's chest forcefully, about 100 times per minute It is not necessary to perform artificial respiration unless you have received the appropriate training
Automated external defibrillator is an electric shock device used to restart the heart's impulses. This device is placed in some public places such as airplanes, police cars and shopping malls You can also buy a defibrillator for home use The device is programmed and only applies the shock when it is needed
