Defibrillation and Cardiac Arrhythmias Quiz

Defibrillation is the passage of an electrical current across the myocardium in order to change the electrical activity of the heart from a chaotic to organized rhythm. It is a term usually used in relation to the treatment of ventricular fibrillation (VF) or ventricular tachycardia (VT); when used for the treatment of atrial fibrillation (AF) or atrial flutter, it is usually termed ‘cardioversion’.

The purpose of defibrillation in the treatment of ventricular fibrillation is to restore a regular heartbeat. Ventricular fibrillation can lead to cardiac arrest and death within minutes, and defibrillation can save lives by shocking the heart with electricity to restore a regular heartbeat when combined with CPR and specialized medical care.

If ventricular fibrillation is not treated immediately, it can induce cardiac arrest and lead to death within minutes. The heart stops pumping blood to the brain and body when it is in ventricular fibrillation.

No, defibrillation does not treat the underlying cause of arrhythmia. It is used to restore a regular heartbeat in cases of life-threatening arrhythmias, but it does not address the arrhythmia's underlying cause.

Defibrillation is usually used in relation to the treatment of ventricular fibrillation (VF) or ventricular tachycardia (VT), while cardioversion is usually termed when used for the treatment of atrial fibrillation (AF) or atrial flutter. The key difference is the type of arrhythmia being treated.