Ventricular fibrillation is a process that is characterized by the occurrence of tachyarrhythmia. This suggests that a person has a regular and frequent rhythm - up to 600 per minute. Pathology is accompanied by a drop in pressure, loss of consciousness, pallor, discoloration, heavy breathing, cramps, and very often this leads to coronary death. In order to establish a similar diagnosis, it is necessary to collect clinical and electrocardiographic data about the patient. When observing the phenomenon, it is necessary to immediately carry out defibrillation, as well as cardiopulmonary resuscitation.
Description
The main sign of ventricular fibrillation is myocardial activity. The process is accompanied by a reduction in the heart with a frequency of about 500-600 per minute. A flutter is preceded by him, at which the indicator is 200-300 per minute.
It should be noted that when observing fibrillation, if help is not provided in 5-7 minutes, then the person will die. One French doctor called this process "delirium of the heart." This is due to the fact that the muscles in the body contract chaotically, in no way obeying the normal rhythm. Because of this, the heart cannot fulfill its primary function. The brain and myocardium do not receive nutrients and oxygen, as critical heart failure occurs.
Anatomical causes
It is important to consider the causes of ventricular fibrillation. As already mentioned above, flutter precedes this phenomenon. If both processes are ignored, then a person will have ventricular asystole. This is a pathology in which contraction does not occur. In this case, it will be difficult for the patient to help with anything. With fibrillation, blood is not pumped. This leads to a decrease in pressure, the brain begins to starve and die. In order to prevent such a situation, you need to know exactly the causes of its occurrence.
To determine the factors that provoke fibrillation and ventricular flutter, it is necessary to pay attention to the anatomy of the heart itself. It has four cameras. We are talking about two ventricles and two atria. Due to the impulses that the brain sends, the heart works rhythmically and provides the blood circulation necessary for life. As soon as the signals are disturbed or the way they are perceived changes, a person malfunctions. For fibrillation to occur, it is necessary that the impulse, instead of its usual path from the brain to the heart, begin to perform a circular motion. Because of this, the myocardium is randomly contracting. At this point, the muscle does not relax. In a few minutes, it completely stops working properly.
Provocative factors
Most often, such processes are caused by a malfunction of the atrioventricular node. Impulses pass through it. At the moment when scarring occurs with the heart muscle or the effect arises, due to which the signal cannot be received, the first symptoms appear in a person within an hour.
It should be noted that in people who died due to a similar phenomenon, thrombi were found in the coronary vessels. This is what leads to death.
If we compare the flutter and fibrillation of the ventricles, then with the first phenomenon, the rhythmic contraction is even more or less visible. And in the second - the cycle of the arrival of pulses is irregular. It should be noted that the work of the heart in both cases is ineffective. Often, such pathologies occur in those people who have suffered an acute heart attack. Such patients have a Q wave on the electrocardiogram. A similar designation indicates that severe changes have occurred in the heart that have led to the appearance of fatal arrhythmias in humans.
Patients with a dysfunction of the electrophysiological type need to be regularly examined by a doctor, although with such factors, serious heart diseases are not detected. This can lead to ventricular fibrillation. On an ECG, patients have a QT interval and are diagnosed with tachycardia.
At risk are people who use drugs. A cardiologist often needs to be examined for those who have had a heart attack, water-electrolyte metabolism in the body is disturbed, myocardium is damaged. Patients with congenital heart disease, ischemia, cardiomyopathy and malformations should be careful. Most often, a similar syndrome is caused by the penultimate ailment. When performing heavy physical exertion, it is often she who provokes fibrillation and, as a result, fatal outcome in young people.
Symptomatology
The first manifestation of atrial and ventricular fibrillation is constant fainting, the causes of which are difficult to determine in the diagnosis. They are caused either by extrasystole, or tachycardia. This phase, manifested by fainting, is not critical, since blood circulation is not impaired.
With the further development of the phenomenon, not only loss of consciousness occurs, but also convulsions. This is due to the fact that in humans a pumping effect in the heart ceases to function. If the patient is not helped in time, blood circulation will stop, and clinical death will occur. This phase is already considered difficult.
Symptoms will be problems with the perception of the world, a palpable pulse, uncontrolled processes of defecation and urination, lack of pupil movement, their expansion and blue skin tone.
Diagnostics
It should be noted that the most important manifestation of ventricular fibrillation of the heart is the lack of breathing and pulsation in the arteries. If a person cannot be helped in 5 minutes, then pathological changes will occur in the brain, as well as disorders of the nervous system and other internal organs.
To make a clinical diagnosis, it is necessary to use ECG readings. After the patient has been removed from a serious condition, various diagnostic procedures should be carried out. This will help to find out the causes of the phenomenon.
Additional analyzes
It is necessary to conduct cardiac monitoring. Due to this, ventricular fibrillation can be detected. The ECG shows rhythmic contractions, as well as abnormalities in the work of the heart. It is necessary to pass tests for the presence of magnesium, sodium, and also check the condition of hormones that affect the myocardium. To understand what dimensions the heart and large vessels have, it is necessary to take an x-ray of the chest area. A doctor may prescribe an echocardiography. Thanks to it, problems with valves, any problems with contractility and so on are easily detected. In rare and severe cases, an MRI or CT scan is performed.
First aid
With ventricular fibrillation, treatment is a fairly important aspect. You must be able to provide emergency care in the shortest possible time, since problems with the work of the heart can lead to death in a matter of seconds. The rhythm cannot recover on its own. Ideally, emergency defibrillation should be performed, however, in the absence of equipment, you need to hit the chest strongly. This will eliminate the phenomenon.
If arrhythmia is still present, then it is necessary to massage the heart and make artificial respiration. In order to perform resuscitation without the necessary equipment, you should put the patient on his back, throw his head back. The jaw needs to be pulled forward to allow air to flow freely into the lungs. If the victim does not take a breath, then artificial respiration is required. Its frequency is up to 12 injections every minute. When doing an indirect heart massage, it is necessary to perform up to 100 taps in 60 seconds. In the event that a person is trying to bring the patient to life on his own, 2 air injections and 15 pressure on the chest wall should be done. This will be the best way to help. If there are two people, then you can use a ratio of 1 to 5.
Medical assistance
Speaking about specialized first aid, it should be noted that it should consist in the use of a defibrillator and special medications. Ideally, a quick ECG reading is needed. This will help to ensure that the condition is indeed fibrillation.