Certain life-threatening cardiac electrical disturbances respond to defibrillation, a therapeutic application of electrical current intended to reset the heart’s rhythm. Ventricular fibrillation, a chaotic, uncoordinated quivering of the ventricles, and pulseless ventricular tachycardia, a rapid, ineffective heartbeat originating in the ventricles, are two primary examples where electrical shock is the definitive treatment. These arrhythmias prevent the heart from effectively pumping blood, leading to rapid deterioration and requiring immediate intervention.
The capacity to identify and treat these specific arrhythmias with electrical therapy is paramount in emergency cardiac care. Early defibrillation significantly improves survival rates following sudden cardiac arrest. Understanding the underlying mechanisms and appropriate application of defibrillation has revolutionized emergency medicine, progressing from initial observations of electrical stimulation’s effect on cardiac muscle to sophisticated automated external defibrillators accessible to laypersons.
