AllRefer Health - Caring for your Well Being  

Home | About | FAQs | Contact Us

AllRefer Channels :: Yellow Pages | Reference | Health  

Diseases & Conditions
Select & Go
 Diet & Nutrition
 Diseases & Conditions 
 Health News
 Injuries & Wounds
 Poisons & Overdoses
 Surgery & Procedures 
 Symptoms Guide
 Special Topics
 Tests & Exams
 Pictures & Images
 Medical Encyclopedia
Google
  Web health.allrefer.com   

You are here : AllRefer.com > Health > Diseases & Conditions > Ventricular Fibrillation: Treatment of Ventricular Fibrillation

Ventricular Fibrillation

Provided by A.D.A.M.

Definition

Overview, Causes, & Risk Factors

Symptoms & Signs

Prevention

Diagnosis & Tests

Treatment

Expectations or Prognosis

Complications

Calling Your Health Care Provider

Pictures & Images

Go To Main Page

Alternate Names : VF

     See all Pictures & Images
Treatment

Ventricular fibrillation is a medical emergency and should be treated immediately to preserve life. Whether the person having VF suddenly falls unconscious at home or in the street, or the person is in the hospital (and VF is diagnosed from a cardiac monitoring station), it is indispensable to initiate immediate cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). If VF occurs in the hospital, prompt medical attention is usually available and is more likely to be successful.

During an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest:

  • Call 911 for emergency help.
  • Until help arrives, position the unconscious person's head and neck in line with the rest of the body to help the person breathe.
  • The carotid arteries are located at each side of the neck, just below each angle of the jaw. Place your fingertips on one of the carotid arteries to try to find a pulse. Not finding a carotid pulse after several attempts is usually a sign that no pulse is present.
  • Start CPR with mouth-to-mouth breathing and chest compressions.
  • Continue CPR until the person regains consciousness or help arrives.

Paramedics will quickly examine the person while continuing CPR. VF is treated by using an external defibrillator, which delivers a quick electric shock through the chest. The electrical shock can immediately convert the VF into a normal rhythm. Stabilizing the heart rhythm and function may require medicines, which will be given through a vein as needed.

Once the VF has been converted to normal heart rhythm (and the patient has been transferred to the hospital, if resuscitated in the street), and to prevent further episodes of VF, the cardiologist will look for potential causes of the arrhythmia. The causes most commonly involved are ischemic heart disease and cardiomyopathies.


<

^ Top

>


Jump to another section

Definition
Overview, Causes, & Risk Factors
Symptoms & Signs
Prevention
Diagnosis & Tests
Treatment
Prognosis
Complications
Calling Your Health Care Provider
Pictures & Images

Review Date : 6/2/2003
Reviewed By : Elena Sgarbossa, M.D., Department of Cardiology, Cleveland Clinic Florida, Weston, FL. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

Main Page of Ventricular Fibrillation







Featured Topics

Alzheimer's Disease

High Blood Pressure

Crohn's Disease

Impotence

Overactive Bladder


ADAM

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org). URAC's accreditation program is the first of its kind, requiring compliance with 53 standards of quality and accountability, verified by independent audit. A.D.A.M. is among the first to achieve this important distinction for online health information and services. Learn more about A.D.A.M.'s editorial reviewers. A.D.A.M. is also a founding member of Hi-Ethics (www.hiethics.com) and subscribes to the principles of the Health on the Net Foundation (www.hon.ch).

The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed physician should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Call 911 for all medical emergencies. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. Copyright 2003 A.D.A.M., Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.

This website is certified by Health On the Net Foundation. Click to verify.
This site complies to the HONcode standard for trustworthy health information: verify here.
Copyright © 2009 AllRefer.com All Rights reserved.
Health Topics: A-Al Am-Az B C-Cj Ck-Cz D E F G H I J K L M N O P-Pl Pm-Pz Q R S-Sl Sm-Sz T U V W X Y Z 0-9
About Us | Help | Privacy Policy | Editorial Policy | Advertising Policy | Accessibility | Terms of Use
Contact Us | Link to Us | User Satisfaction Survey | Healthopedia.com
Page Last Updated: 23 Nov, 2009