What is the treatment of choice for ventricular fibrillation?
External electrical defibrillation remains the most successful treatment for ventricular fibrillation (VF). A shock is delivered to the heart to uniformly and simultaneously depolarize a critical mass of the excitable myocardium.
Why is amiodarone used in ventricular fibrillation?
Amiodarone is a potent antiarrhythmic agent that is used to treat ventricular arrhythmias and atrial fibrillation. The drug prevents the recurrence of life-threatening ventricular arrhythmias and produces a modest reduction of sudden deaths in high-risk patients.
What is amiodarone 400mg used for?
Amiodarone is used to treat and prevent certain types of serious, life-threatening ventricular arrhythmias (a certain type of abnormal heart rhythm when other medications did not help or could not be tolerated. Amiodarone is in a class of medications called antiarrhythmics.
What is amiodarone prescribed for?
Amiodarone (Cordarone) is used to treat and prevent an irregular heartbeat. It slows down nerve activity in the heart and relaxes an overactive heart.
Is 50 mg of amiodarone effective?
Conclusion: Low dose AD (50-100 mg. d-1) is a safe and efficient maintenance of sinus rhythm in aged patients with no-valvular heart diseases and paroxysmal atrial fibrillation.
Does amiodarone lower BP?
In addition to being an antiarrhythmic medication, amiodarone also causes blood vessels to dilate (enlarge). This effect can result in a drop in blood pressure. Because of this effect, it also may be of benefit in patients with congestive heart failure.
What is amiodarone used to treat?
What causes V fib after a cardiac catheterization?
Causes of ventricular fibrillation. V-fib can have several root causes, including: Insufficient blood flow to the heart muscle. Damage to the heart muscle (from a heart attack, for example) Cardiomyopathy. Problems with the aorta. Drug toxicity.
Does V fib have a pulse?
Ventricular fibrillation (V-fib or VF) is when the heart quivers instead of pumping due to disorganized electrical activity in the ventricles. It is a type of cardiac arrhythmia. Ventricular fibrillation results in cardiac arrest with loss of consciousness and no pulse.
What is the prognosis for ventricular fibrillation?
The outlook for a person with untreated ventricular fibrillation is poor. The individual usually will die within a few minutes if untreated. Even if VFib is treated, survival rates at best range from about 20%-35%. Rates are higher if the person is taken to the hospital immediately and receives medical care.
What does V fib look like?
Ventricular fibrillation (v-fib) is a common cause of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. In this case, the heart quivers ineffectively and no blood is pumped out of the heart. On the monitor, v-fib will look like a frenetically disorganized wavy line.