Ventricular Fibrillation

A potentially lethal cardiac arrhythmia that is characterized by uncoordinated extremely rapid firing of electrical impulses (400-600/min) in HEART VENTRICLES. Such asynchronous ventricular quivering or fibrillation prevents any effective cardiac output and results in unconsciousness (SYNCOPE). It is one of the major electrocardiographic patterns seen with CARDIAC ARREST.

Also Known As:

Fibrillation, Ventricular; Fibrillations, Ventricular; Ventricular Fibrillations

Networked: 8195 relevant articles (440 outcomes, 758 trials/studies)

Relationship Network

Disease Context: Research Results

Related Diseases

1.	Ventricular Tachycardia
2.	Heart Arrest (Cardiac Arrest)
3.	Ischemia
4.	Cardiac Arrhythmias (Arrythmia)
5.	Myocardial Infarction

Experts

1.	Tang, Wanchun: 80 articles (07/2022 - 04/2002)
2.	Berg, Robert A: 57 articles (06/2022 - 02/2002)
3.	Yannopoulos, Demetris: 41 articles (10/2022 - 04/2004)
4.	Kern, Karl B: 40 articles (01/2019 - 02/2002)
5.	Sun, Shijie: 39 articles (05/2015 - 04/2002)
6.	Weil, Max Harry: 38 articles (01/2013 - 04/2002)
7.	Zareba, Wojciech: 30 articles (01/2021 - 10/2004)
8.	Dorian, Paul: 29 articles (10/2022 - 01/2002)
9.	McNitt, Scott: 29 articles (01/2021 - 10/2004)
10.	Chen, Peng-Sheng: 27 articles (01/2020 - 01/2002)

Drugs and Biologics

Drugs and Important Biological Agents (IBA) related to Ventricular Fibrillation:

1.	Amiodarone (Amiodarona)FDA LinkGeneric 04/01/1987 - "Recurrent ventricular fibrillation in a neonate after corrective surgery was effectively treated with intravenous amiodarone in addition to countershock. " 04/01/2010 - "The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of prophylactic single-dose amiodarone administered through the pump circuit before releasing the aortic cross-clamp (ACC) in preventing the occurrence of reperfusion ventricular fibrillation (RVF). " 12/01/2009 - "The aim of the study was to evaluate the efficacy of the prophylactic administration of 150 mg amiodarone by way of the pump 2 min before release of aortic cross-clamp in preventing ventricular fibrillation. " 06/01/2003 - "A second prospective, randomized clinical trial of amiodarone for refractory ventricular fibrillation has again shown positive results in improving survival to hospital admission. " 10/01/2010 - "A review of the past 25 years of literature finds several studies that identify a small risk of ventricular fibrillation secondary to amiodarone administration for rate control in WPW-AF. "
2.	Lidocaine (Xylocaine)FDA LinkGeneric 01/01/1982 - "The authors concluded, however, that all the other studies had major defects in trial design, and were prepared to accept the conclusion that lidocaine was effective in preventing primary ventricular fibrillation after myocardial infraction. " 06/01/1979 - "Several investigations into the prophylactic use of lidocaine to prevent the development of arrhythmias have shown that lidocaine, given in therapeutic doses, is effective in preventing ventricular fibrillation and in reducing early mortality. " 01/01/2019 - "Active hydraulic ventricular attaching support system (ASD) placed around the heart is not only a novel, nontransplant surgical device used for epicardial administration of drugs like lidocaine, but also a promising treatment option for ventricular fibrillation (VF) and arrhythmias. " 01/01/1982 - "One other study did show that lidocaine gave protection against primary ventricular fibrillation (3). " 10/01/2000 - "To determine the efficacy of a bolus of lidocaine administered by way of the pump before releasing the aortic cross-clamp (ACC) in preventing the occurrence of reperfusion ventricular fibrillation. "
3.	Epinephrine (Adrenaline)FDA LinkGeneric 01/01/2016 - "The effects of proximal and distal routes of intraosseous epinephrine administration on short-term resuscitative outcome measures in an adult swine model of ventricular fibrillation: a randomized controlled study." 02/01/1998 - "Clinical studies suggest that epinephrine facilitates ventricular fibrillation (VF) although mechanisms remain unclear. " 07/01/1985 - "However, a recent study failed to show any effect of epinephrine in dogs with normal coronary arteries undergoing electrically-induced ventricular fibrillation (VF). " 01/01/2023 - "Factors with favourable outcomes include CA in ED (p<0.001), the initial rhythm of ventricular fibrillation (p=0.003), defibrillation (p=0.024), OHCA witnessed by emergency medical services (EMS) (p=0.024) and intravenous adrenaline administration (p=0.001). " 01/01/2022 - "Epinephrine was generally well tolerated with no immediate table death or ventricular fibrillation. "
4.	Anti-Arrhythmia AgentsIBA 02/17/2009 - "Our purpose was to evaluate the efficacy of antiarrhythmic drugs (AADs) in recurrent ventricular fibrillation (VF) associated with inferolateral early repolarization pattern on the electrocardiogram. " 02/01/1997 - "1. In the last decade, a number of clinical observations have questioned the efficacy of certain class I antiarrhythmic drugs against ischaemia-induced ventricular fibrillation. " 01/01/2004 - "Thus, in recent years, studies have focused on the roles played by specific ionic mechanisms and their modulation by antiarrhythmic drugs in ventricular fibrillation dynamics. " 08/04/1988 - "Four of 13 patients (31 percent) who underwent multiple trials of antiarrhythmic drugs had recurrent episodes of ventricular fibrillation. " 03/01/1988 - "The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of several different antiarrhythmic drugs on the ventricular fibrillation threshold (VFT). "
5.	Propranolol (Inderal)FDA LinkGeneric 07/01/1993 - "Propranolol was extremely effective against ventricular fibrillation. " 02/01/1989 - "Only the lowest dose of propranolol, i.e., 0.1 mg/kg intravenously (i.v.) (plasma level 22 +/- 2 ng/ml) decreased the incidence of ventricular fibrillation (VF), i.e. " 04/01/1987 - "Propranolol (0.5 mg/kg or 10 mg iv at maximum) attenuated supersensitive shortening of ERP and decreased the incidence of induction of ventricular fibrillation.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)" 08/01/1982 - "It is suggested that the congenital and acquired forms can be differentiated by pharmacological interventions and that the efficacy of propranolol in the former may result from its ability not only to increase the threshold for ventricular fibrillation, but also its ability to shorten the QT interval." 06/01/1975 - "The combination of propranolol and vagal stimulation also failed to confer protection against ventricular fibrillation. "
6.	Vasopressins (Vasopressin)IBA 08/01/1996 - "This study contributes to the characterization of the effect of increasing global myocardial blood flow on median fibrillation frequency after administration of graded doses of vasopressin in a porcine model of ventricular fibrillation. " 06/01/2017 - "The resuscitative and pharmacokinetic effects of humeral intraosseous vasopressin in a swine model of ventricular fibrillation. " 06/01/2017 - "The Resuscitative and Pharmacokinetic Effects of Humeral Intraosseous Vasopressin in a Swine Model of Ventricular Fibrillation." 08/01/2004 - "After 4 min of untreated ventricular fibrillation, and 3 min of cardiopulmonary by-pass blood flow, 12 pigs were randomly assigned to receive intravenously, every 5 min, either vasopressin (0.4, 0.4, and 0.8 U/kg; n = 6) or saline placebo (n = 6). " 08/01/1996 - "Using spectral analysis, median frequencies of ventricular fibrillation-before drug administration and 90 secs and 5 mins after drug administration-were as follows in the four groups: 9.6 +/- 0.4, 8.5 +/- 0.8, and 7.2 +/- 1.0 Hz in the control group; 9.7 +/- 0.5, 12.9 +/- 0.8 (p < .01 vs. control group), and 12.7 +/- 0.8 Hz (p < .001 vs. control group) in the group receiving 0.2 U/kg of vasopressin; 10.3 +/- 0.2, 12.7 +/- 0.9 (p < .01 vs. control group), and 12.8 +/- 0.7 Hz (p < .001 vs. control group) in the group receiving 0.4 U/kg of vasopressin; and 10.0 +/- 0.9, 14.1 +/- 0.9 (p < .001 vs. control group), and 12.5 +/- 0.9 Hz (p < .001 vs. control group) in the group receiving 0.8 U/kg of vasopressin at the same points in time. "
7.	Sotalol (Sotalol Hydrochloride)FDA LinkGeneric 08/01/1984 - "In a conscious canine model which spontaneously develops ventricular fibrillation, dl-sotalol (2 mg/kg, n = 7; 8 mg/kg, n = 13) decreased the incidence of ventricular fibrillation and increased survival at 24 hr (13 of 20, 65% vs. control, 1 of 15, 7%; P less than .001). " 02/01/1990 - "The aim of this study was to compare the effects of d- and dl-sotalol on the ventricular fibrillation threshold (VFT) and the effective refractory period (VERP) in anaesthetized cats subjected to coronary artery occlusion. " 01/01/2009 - "The effects of d,l-sotalol at therapeutic concentrations (<or=10 mg/L) on wavefront dynamics during ventricular fibrillation (VF) and electrophysiological heterogeneity remain unclear. " 01/01/2009 - "d,l-Sotalol at therapeutic concentrations facilitates the occurrence of long-lasting non-stationary reentry during ventricular fibrillation in isolated rabbit hearts." 10/01/1996 - "The estimated energy (E50) and voltage (V50) for 50% success in defibrillation (estimated from two successive defibrillation "threshold" measurements), ventricular effective refractory period, monophasic action potential duration, and mean cycle length of ventricular fibrillation were measured, along with heart rate, blood pressure, and plasma concentration of d-sotalol. "
8.	Verapamil (Calan)FDA LinkGeneric 09/01/1987 - "In a separate experiment, the ability of an observer to detect ventricular fibrillation (VF) on the basis of changes in behaviour alone was established; (+/- ) verapamil statistically significantly reduced total mortality compared with controls, while (-) verapamil produced a similar, but non-statistically significant reduction. " 07/01/1988 - "Verapamil (0.6 mg/kg i.v.) decreased the incidence of ventricular fibrillation to 0 of 7 versus 22 of 25 in controls (p less than 0.005); left ventricular dP/dtmax decreased from 2,062 +/- 144 to 1,060 +/- 168 mm Hg/sec (p less than 0.0001). " 11/01/2014 - "Verapamil reduces incidence of reentry during ventricular fibrillation in pigs." 07/01/2011 - "The PQRST waves were normalized and atrial and ventricular fibrillation was controlled in rats treated with verapamil and T. " 01/01/2009 - "We have shown previously that verapamil reduces the slope of the action potential duration (APD) restitution relation, suppresses APD alternans and converts ventricular fibrillation (VF) into a periodic rhythm. "
9.	Quinidine (Chinidin)FDA LinkGeneric 03/01/2006 - "We sought to assess the efficacy of low-dose (300-600 mg) quinidine sulfate on the prevention of ventricular fibrillation induction by programmed electrical stimulation (PES) and spontaneous ventricular fibrillation episodes during the subsequent follow-up period. " 01/01/2018 - "An electrophysiology study (EPS) was performed on 11 patients with inducible ventricular fibrillation (VF) in 10, which was prevented by quinidine in 9/10 patients. " 01/01/1962 - "An experimental study using quinidine as a prophylactic against ventricular fibrillation." 09/01/2021 - "Arrhythmic storm from ischemic ventricular fibrillation treated with intravenous quinidine." 07/01/2020 - "The case for quinidine: Management of electrical storm in refractory ventricular fibrillation."
10.	Oxygen (Dioxygen)IBA 01/01/2002 - "SBI, SAI, and SBAI each reduced ventricular fibrillation, attenuated increases in systolic and systolic-diastolic [Ca(2+)], improved contractile and relaxation indices, and increased coronary flow, percent oxygen extraction, MvO(2), and cardiac efficiency during 60 min reperfusion compared with CON. " 12/01/1963 - "EXPERIMENTAL STUDY OF THE OXYGEN DIFFERENTIAL THEORY OF VENTRICULAR FIBRILLATION." 01/01/1962 - "Experimental study of the oxygen differential theory of ventricular fibrillation." 01/06/2023 - "We randomized 30 anaesthetized domestic swine (weight approximately 50 kg) with electrically induced ventricular fibrillation to the CCC or 30:2 group and bag-valve ventilation with a fraction of inspired oxygen (FiO2) of 100%. " 01/01/2017 - "Ventricular fibrillation (VF) was induced electrically in anaesthetised healthy adult pigs and left untreated for seven minutes followed by randomisation to manual ventilation with 50% or 100% oxygen and mechanical chest compressions (LUCAS®). "

Therapies and Procedures

1.	Resuscitation 12/05/2020 - "Early ECMO-facilitated resuscitation for patients with OHCA and refractory ventricular fibrillation significantly improved survival to hospital discharge compared with standard ACLS treatment. " 02/01/1975 - "It was also effective in controlling the ventricular dysrhythmias which occurred after resuscitation from ventricular fibrillation. " 08/01/2014 - "In previously reported porcine models of hypoxic and normoxic ventricular fibrillation (VF), a hemodynamic-directed resuscitation improved short-term survival compared to current practice guidelines. " 01/15/2013 - "Using cardiocerebral resuscitation as a model for CQI, neurologically intact survival of patients with OHCA in ventricular fibrillation improved in 2 rural counties in Wisconsin, from 15% to 39%, and in 60 emergency medical systems in Arizona, to 38%. " 08/01/1993 - "The first 2 years of experience with 499 technician-initiated resuscitation attempts in which the mobile intensive care unit of Klinikum Steglitz was involved, confirmed the results of the pilot study with an improved long-term survival rate (18%) for patients with ventricular fibrillation. "
2.	Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) 10/01/1994 - "Studies in dogs and pigs in ventricular fibrillation have demonstrated a significant improvement in systolic blood pressure, coronary perfusion pressure and total brain and myocardial blood flow with ACD CPR compared with standard CPR. " 07/01/2015 - "Patients with refractory ventricular fibrillation receiving E-CPR had a trend toward higher survival rates and significantly improved neurological outcomes than those receiving C-CPR." 04/01/1991 - "Survival was significantly greater with bystander-witnessed arrest, bystander-initiated CPR, paramedic-witnessed arrest, initial rhythm of ventricular fibrillation, and shorter treatment intervals. " 01/01/2020 - "Percutaneous stellate ganglion block and extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation: an effective and safe combination for refractory ventricular fibrillation." 07/06/2004 - "Recent studies have shown that, after prolonged ventricular fibrillation, the rates of return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) and survival are improved if defibrillation is delayed so that CPR can be given first. "
3.	Therapeutics 08/01/2006 - "The efficacy of electrical therapy at terminating ventricular fibrillation is highly dependent on the waveform used. " 11/01/2019 - "The procedural outcome data of UNTOUCHED reinforce that S-ICD therapy has low perioperative complication rates and high conversion efficacy of induced ventricular fibrillation, even in a higher-risk cohort with low LVEF and more comorbidities than previous S-ICD studies. " 07/01/2009 - "Despite many limitations of those studies, the AHA also suggests that this therapy may be beneficial for patients with non-ventricular fibrillation arrests. " 09/01/1998 - "Twenty percent had appropriate therapy for ventricular fibrillation (n = 9) and VT (n = 23), which was effective in all cases. " 11/01/2010 - "The present study was designed to investigate the feasibility of NIF as a life-saving therapy for out-of-hospital ventricular fibrillation (VF). "
4.	Implantable Defibrillators (Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillator) 12/01/2010 - "The automatic implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (AICD) is the most effective treatment for patients with life-threatening VT or ventricular fibrillation. " 05/01/2009 - "The automatic implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (AICD) is the most effective treatment for patients with life-threatening VT or ventricular fibrillation. " 03/01/1993 - "The implantable cardioverter defibrillator is an expensive tool with a theoretically wide range of clinical indications, with already proven efficacy in converting ventricular fibrillation to sinus rhythm but with unproven efficacy on prolonging survival because of a lack of controlled trials (which, we must admit, is also true for drugs and surgery). " 10/01/2008 - "The implantable cardioverter defibrillator with an active can and a single coil lead is effective in treating ventricular fibrillation, but the lead placement associated with the high defibrillation efficacy is still controversial and remains largely empirical. " 01/01/1998 - "The efficacy of low-energy T wave shocks for induction of ventricular fibrillation (VF) was evaluated in 33 patients undergoing implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) implantation (33 sessions) or predischarge ICD testing (20 sessions). "
5.	Induced Hypothermia 12/01/2009 - "The therapeutic hypothermia period was associated with a significant improvement in neurologic outcomes in patients whose initial rhythm was ventricular fibrillation, but not in patients with other rhythms." 11/01/2014 - "In early clinical trials, application of therapeutic hypothermia improved survival in patients with ventricular fibrillation (VF), which led to the recommended use of therapeutic hypothermia for patients resuscitated from VF. " 12/01/2009 - "In adjusted analysis, ventricular fibrillation patients during the therapeutic hypothermia period trended toward improved survival (odds ratio, 1.71, 95% confidence interval, 0.85-3.46) and had favorable neurologic outcome (odds ratio, 2.62, 95% confidence interval, 1.1-6.27) compared with the earlier period. " 12/01/2009 - "Survival to hospital discharge improved in the therapeutic hypothermia period in patients with an initial rhythm of ventricular fibrillation (odds ratio, 1.88, 95% confidence interval, 1.03-3.45), however not in patients with nonventricular fibrillation (odds ratio, 1.17, 95% confidence interval, 0.66-2.05). " 02/22/2015 - "Inducibility of ventricular fibrillation during mild therapeutic hypothermia: electrophysiological study in a swine model."