Ventricular Fibrillation
Disordered, non-coordinated contraction of the ventricle musculature with high frequency. Can start from ventricular flutter.
In ventricular fibrillation, irregular flicker waves are present in all ECG to detect the derivations. The chamber frequency is above that of chamber flutter (approx. 300/min.) and results in a circulatory arrest.
Ventricular fibrillation and pulseless ventricular tachycardia is the most common cause of sudden cardiac death. The most promising form of therapy for a patient with this arrhythmia is immediate and if necessary repeated every minute defibrillation (ERC) with simultaneous cardio-pulmonary resuscitation.