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Asystole (New Latin, from Greek privative a "not, without" + systolē "contraction" [1] [2]) is the absence of ventricular contractions in the context of a lethal heart arrhythmia (in contrast to an induced asystole on a cooled patient on a heart-lung machine and general anesthesia during surgery necessitating stopping the heart).
In medicine, an agonal heart rhythm is a variant of asystole. Agonal heart rhythm is usually ventricular in origin. Occasional P waves and QRS complexes can be seen on the electrocardiogram. The complexes tend to be wide and bizarre in morphological appearance. [1]
Ventricular fibrillation (V-fib or VF) is an abnormal heart rhythm in which the ventricles of the heart quiver. [2] It is due to disorganized electrical activity. [2] Ventricular fibrillation results in cardiac arrest with loss of consciousness and no pulse. [1] This is followed by sudden cardiac death in the absence of treatment. [2]
ECG flatline or asystole is diagnosed when a person, who is in cardiac arrest (the heart stops beating), is experiencing the following conditions: unresponsive to stimuli, without breathing or a palpable pulse. [2] The eclectrocardiogram (ECG) test records the heart's electrical activity and will show a flat line if the heart stops beating. [2]
Ventricular fibrillation occurs in the ventricles (lower chambers) of the heart; it is always a medical emergency. If left untreated, ventricular fibrillation (VF, or V-fib) can lead to death within minutes. When a heart goes into V-fib, effective pumping of the blood stops. V-fib is considered a form of cardiac arrest.
Cardiac arrest is also identified by a lack of central pulses and abnormal or absent breathing. [1] Cardiac arrest and resultant hemodynamic collapse often occur due to arrhythmias (irregular heart rhythms). Ventricular fibrillation and ventricular tachycardia are most commonly recorded. [14]
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Defibrillation is indicated only in certain types of cardiac dysrhythmias, specifically ventricular fibrillation (VF) and pulseless ventricular tachycardia. [ 1 ] [ 2 ] If the heart has completely stopped, as in asystole or pulseless electrical activity (PEA) , defibrillation is not indicated.