Question 1

do beta blockers such as toprol (metoprolol) help to prevent atrial and ventricular fibrillation?

Accepted Answer

Yes to an extent: More beneficial to prevent af than vf!

Question 2

if someone goes into ventricular fibrillation, how can you keep them alive until the ambulance arrives? how can you prevent asystole before ambulance?

Accepted Answer

You can't absolutely: However, if the person is still responsive but you know they have developed VFib in the past, you can yell at them and encourage them to cough forcefully, many times, to attempt to get them back into a normal rhythm.  If they are unconscious, and you have taken CPR, you can administer a blow with the fist to the BREAST BONE (and ONLY there).  Such a person should have a pacemaker and be on meds.

Question 3

can beta blockers such as propranolol or toprol (metoprolol) help prevent ventricular fibrillation in susceptible individuals?

Accepted Answer

Beta Blockers: Yes.  Beta blockers are antiarrythmic medications as well as an anti-hypertensive medication.  It counteracts the effects of catacholamines like Epinephrine which can cause tachycardia, hypertension and in susceptible individuals ventricular fibrillation.

Question 4

what are the tests for ventricular fibrillation?

Accepted Answer

Immediate ECG: Ventricular fibrillation is a potentially fatal heart arrhythmia which if not reversed back to a normal rhythm, can cause permanent stoppage of the heart. It always causes patients to lose conciousness and cause cardiovascular collapse. These patients need to have immediate confirmation of their rhythm disturbance and be defibrillated immediately to prevent death.

Question 5

what are the symptoms of ventricular fibrillation?

Accepted Answer

Cardiac arrest: Ventricular fibrillation is a fatal arrhythmia that results in death unless reversed with defibrillation. The main symptoms are cardiovascular collapse with absence of blood pressure, pulselessness, and total unresponsiveness to any stimuli.

Question 6

what kind of ventricular fibrillation is not dangerous?

Accepted Answer

None: Ventricular fibrillation is a condition in which there is uncoordinated contraction of the cardiac muscle of the ventricles in the heart, making them quiver rather than contract properly. Ventricular fibrillation is a medical emergency and a commonly identified arrythmia in cardiac arrest patients. Ventricular fibrillation is a medical emergency that requires prompt emergency intervention.

Question 7

ventricular fibrillation fatal?

Accepted Answer

Usually: Almost always.  It may terminate on it's own in some circumstances, but not very often.  If you had a internal or external defibrillator, then you could terminate the vf before it was fatal.

Question 8

is there a cure for ventricular fibrillation?

Accepted Answer

I do not think so: Absolutely not. This is the most dangerous arrhythmia one can have because it can quickly deteriorate to asystole. 
V-fib is a shockable rhythm and a victim will most likely be pulseless. It must be treated with defibrillation, cpr, epinephrine/vasopressin, amiodarone, Lidocaine and/or magnesium. It's not something you can treat at home with a cup of herbal tea. And anyway, you'd be unconscious.

Question 9

is there a p wave in ventricular fibrillation?

Accepted Answer

Not visibly. : There is usually atrial activity, either the occasional retrograde atrial activation, or just the normal sinus rate progressing along unaffected by the vf.   However, with the continuous ventricular activity in vf, it would typically be impossible to make out a P wave on the surface ekg.  When we have catheters in the heart (during an ep study) we see the atrial activity in vf.

Question 10

how come there is no p wave in ventricular fibrillation?

Accepted Answer

P waves are atrial: "p" wave are a finding on the ECG (electrocardiogram) which represents atrial contraction.  During ventricular fibrillation there is no organized atrial activity and therefore there will be no P wave generated.

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Doctor answers about:

How to prevent ventricular fibrillation

A member asked:

Do beta blockers such as toprol (metoprolol) help to prevent atrial and ventricular fibrillation?

A member asked:

If someone goes into ventricular fibrillation, how can you keep them alive until the ambulance arrives? how can you prevent asystole before ambulance?

A member asked:

Can beta blockers such as propranolol or toprol (metoprolol) help prevent ventricular fibrillation in susceptible individuals?

A member asked:

What are the tests for ventricular fibrillation?

A member asked:

What are the symptoms of ventricular fibrillation?

A member asked:

What kind of ventricular fibrillation is not dangerous?

A member asked:

Ventricular fibrillation fatal?

A member asked:

Is there a cure for ventricular fibrillation?

A member asked:

Is there a p wave in ventricular fibrillation?

A member asked:

How come there is no p wave in ventricular fibrillation?

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