Ventricular fibrillation

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Heart, front view

Heart, section through the middle

VF; Fibrillation - ventricular

Ventricular fibrillation is a medical emergency and must be immediately treated to save a person's life.

If a person having a VF episode collapses at home or becomes unconscious, call the local emergency number (such as 911).

While waiting for help, place the person’s head and neck in line with the rest of the body to help make breathing easier. Start CPR with mouth-to-mouth breathing and chest compressions. Continue to do this until the person becomes alert or help arrives.

The emergency medical team will quickly examine the person while continuing CPR. The person will be taken to the hospital.

VF is treated by delivering a quick electric shock through the chest using a device called a external defibrillator. The electrical shock can immediately restore the heartbeat back to a normal rhythm.

Medicines may be given to control the heartbeat and heart function. Persons with heart muscle damage may need additional procedures, including a heart transplant.

A cardiologist will look for potential causes of the VF.

An implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) may be recommended for those who survive a VF attack and are at risk for future ones. The ICD has shown to effectively prevent sudden cardiac death.

VF can lead to death within a few minutes or a few days. The survival rate for a person who has a VF attack outside the hospital ranges between 2 - 25%.

The most common complication of VF is sudden death, which is death that occurs within 1 hour after symptoms started.

For survivors of VF, complications include coma, reduced mental perception, and nerve problems similar to those seen after a stroke.

Moderate hypothermia therapy may be used on persons who remain in a coma after treatment. This involves keeping the person slightly below normal body temperature for several hours. Such therapy has been shown to improve neurological outcome and reduce death.

Seek immediate medical attention if someone shows signs of VF.

Review Date: 02/07/2007
Reviewed By: Glenn Gandelman, MD, MPH, Assistant Clinical Professor of Medicine, New York Medical College, Valhalla, NY. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.