Knowledge Base

Shockable Rhythms: VF & Pulseless VT

Knowledge Base

title: "Shockable Rhythms: VF & Pulseless VT"

Shockable Rhythms: VF & Pulseless VT

Key Facts

VF/pVT are treated with immediate defibrillation plus high-quality CPR.

The 4 Hs of reversible causes are: Hypoxia, Hypovolaemia, Hypo/hyperkalaemia, Hypothermia

The 4 Ts of reversible causes are: Tension pneumothorax, Tamponade, Toxins, Thrombosis (PE/MI)

In VF/pVT, give adrenaline after the 2nd shock (then repeat every 3-5 minutes).

Amiodarone 300 mg IV/IO is given after the 3rd shock in VF/pVT (consider 150 mg after the 5th shock).

Source: ANZCOR ALS adult algorithm.

Overview

This article covers VF recognition, VT recognition, Defibrillation protocol.

Content for this wiki article will be expanded from the Week 1 material.

ECG Examples

Ventricular fibrillation (schematic)
Ventricular fibrillation (example ECG)— LITFL ECG Library (CC BY-NC-SA 4.0)
Ventricular tachycardia (schematic)
Ventricular tachycardia (example ECG)— LITFL ECG Library (CC BY-NC-SA 4.0)
Torsades de pointes (schematic)
Torsades de pointes (example ECG)— LITFL ECG Library (CC BY-NC-SA 4.0)

VF recognition

Content to be added from source material.

VT recognition

Content to be added from source material.

Defibrillation protocol

Content to be added from source material.

Sources

  • ANZCOR Guidelines
  • CC Bible

Test Your Knowledge

SBAmediumwikishockable-rhythms
In shock-refractory VF (Ventricular Fibrillation)/pVT, when is amiodarone 300 mg typically given?
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SBAeasywikishockable-rhythms
Which of the following is NOT one of the 4 Hs of reversible causes in cardiac arrest?
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Related Topics

See also: Advanced Life Support (ALS), Non-Shockable Rhythms: Asystole & PEA