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Another form of tachycardia originates in the ventricles, specifically as a re-entrant tachycardia. It may be caused by ischemic myocardium, resulting in an abnormal electrical circuit forming a short circuit within the ventricles. Unlike rhythms controlled by the nervous system, ventricular tachycardia operates independently, reducing ventricular filling time and cardiac output as the heart rate increases. If left untreated, it can progress to a pulseless ventricular tachycardia, leading to cardiac arrest with no palpable radial pulse. Immediate action involves rapidly identifying this condition and delivering a DC shock using a defibrillator.
Ventricular fibrillation is another shockable rhythm frequently encountered, particularly in pre-hospital settings following significant heart attacks. It involves dis-coordinated and erratic electrical activity within the heart, resulting in the ventricular walls fibrillating instead of efficiently ejecting blood. This rapid deterioration leads to unconsciousness. For ventricular fibrillation, the treatment involves delivering a DC shock without delay.
