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Does the electrical activity of the heart precede mechanical activity?
Yes. It is the electrical activity that stimulates the mechanical activity.
What is pharmacologic management of ventricular fibrillation?
Patients who experience ventricular fibrillation (which is disorganized electrical activity occuring within the lower chambers of the heart) are resuscitated via defibrillation. Defibrillation consists of an electric shock usually delivered via conductive pads or paddles. It essentially resets all the cells of the heart in hopes that when electrical activity resumes, it will be organized and able to pump blood. Untreated, all ventricular fibrillation is fatal, and patients who are at known risk for experiencing this arrythmia can be provided with an implanted cardioverter defibrillator, or ICD. This is a device which is placed under the skin of the upper torso and connected to the heart with a wire. It contains a computer which will monitor the patient's heart at all times and deliver a shock if recognizes ventricular fibrillation or a related rhythm called ventricular tachycardia. There are also certain drugs, such as amiodarone and lidocaine, which can be given to a patient at known risk for ventricular fibrillation in order to make it less likely. These drugs usually work by making the cell membranes of the cells of the heart more electrically stable. Many of the same drugs can also be given if defibrillation is initially unsuccessful in order to help make it more effective. It should be noted that there is a very short window of time to treat ventricular fibrillation (permenant brain damage begins to occur approximately 4-6 minutes after the onset of the arrythmia), and the prognosis for these patients is generally very poor if they are not defibrillated immediately and transferred to a critical care setting.
What is the medical term meaning procedure to assess the electrical activity of a patient's heart over a 24-hour period of normal activity?
The 24 ambulatory monitoring of the heart is called Holter monitoring
What does depolarization of the heart mean?
It is a positive wave in the hearts muscle cells, the process of electrical discharge and the flow of electrical activity.
What is a cardiograph?
A cardiograph is an instrument designed to measure and record the electrical activity of the heart.
The heart does not need to have electrical activity for defibrillation to work?
No, what defibrillation does is 'reorganize' chaotic electrical activity known as ventricular fibrillation or pulseless V-Tach.
What is the only effective treatment for ventricular fibrillation?
The only effective treatment for ventricular fibrillation is defibrillation. Defibrillation is the delivery of a controlled electrical shock to the heart to stop the erratic electrical activity of fibrillation and allow the sinoatrial node to take over pacing the heart normally.
What does defibrillation mean?
Defibrillation is a treatment for any abnormal electrical activity of the heart, uncoordinated contraction of the cardiac muscle or fast heart rhythm. Defibrillation cosists of delivering a therapeutic dose of electrical energy to the affected area of the heart with a device called a defibrillator and helps alow normal sinus rhythm.
Can difibrillation be used to restart a heart without any electrical activity?
No, defibrillation cannot work without any electrical activity. Defibrillators work with electricity to restart one's heart, not by itself.
Can you defibrillate a patient in asystole?
No, defibrillation is not effective for patients in asystole because there is no electrical activity in the heart to shock back into a normal rhythm. Instead, other interventions such as CPR and medication may be used to try to restore a heartbeat.
Why larger waves seen on the oscilloscope represent venticular contraction?
Larger waves on an oscilloscope during ventricular contraction indicate a higher electrical activity in the heart muscle as it contracts more forcefully. This increased electrical activity produces a stronger muscle contraction in the ventricles, resulting in a larger signal on the oscilloscope.
How does epinephrine lower defibrillation threshold?
Epinephrine lowers the defibrillation threshold by enhancing myocardial contractility and promoting vasoconstriction, which improves coronary and cerebral perfusion during cardiac arrest. It increases the release of norepinephrine and enhances the excitability of cardiac tissues, making them more responsive to electrical shocks. This combined effect helps to stabilize the heart's electrical activity, increasing the likelihood of successful defibrillation. Additionally, epinephrine's ability to increase systemic vascular resistance aids in maintaining circulation during resuscitation efforts.
Why is it important to give early defilberation to an adult?
Early defibrillation is crucial for adults experiencing sudden cardiac arrest because it significantly increases the chances of survival. When the heart's electrical activity becomes erratic, defibrillation can restore a normal rhythm, preventing irreversible brain damage and death. Every minute that passes without defibrillation reduces the likelihood of survival by about 10%, making prompt action vital. Therefore, access to and use of automated external defibrillators (AEDs) can be life-saving in emergencies.
Does the electrical activity of the heart precede mechanical activity?
Yes. It is the electrical activity that stimulates the mechanical activity.
Uncoordinated irregular activity of the ventricles is referred to as ventricular what?
Uncoordinated irregular activity of the ventricles is referred to as ventricular fibrillation. This condition is characterized by rapid, chaotic electrical impulses in the ventricles, preventing them from contracting effectively and pumping blood. It is a life-threatening emergency that requires immediate medical intervention, such as defibrillation, to restore a normal heart rhythm.
What is synchronized cardioversion?
From the related link, Synchronized Cardioversion is: --A controlled form of defibrillation for patients who still have organized cardiac activity with a pulse.
Why do you not shock asystole during cardiac arrest?
During cardiac arrest, asystole is a state of no electrical activity in the heart. Shocking is not effective for asystole because there is no organized electrical activity to reset. Instead, CPR and medications are used to try to restart the heart.
