Ventricular Fibrillation

Ventricular fibrillation, or VF, is considered the most serious abnormal heart rhythm. VF is extremely dangerous and can lead to sudden cardiac death. Without treatment, the condition is fatal within minutes.

Disordered electrical activity causes the heart’s lower chambers (ventricles) to quiver instead of contracting (or beating) normally. This prohibits the heart from pumping blood, causing collapse and cardiac arrest.

ECG Features

Heart rate: >300

P wave: absent

QRS: N/A

PR-interval: N/A

Rhythm: Irregular