Ventricular fibrillation natural history, complications and prognosis

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]

Overview

VF will lead to death within a few minutes unless it is treated quickly and effectively. Even then, long-term survival for people who live through a VF attack outside of the hospital is between 2% and 25%. People who have survived VF may be in a coma or have long-term damage.

Natural History, Complications, and Prognosis

Natural History

Complications

Common complications of ventricular fibrillation include:^[1]^[2]

brain injury due to hypoxia
Arrhythmias
trauma from CPR and resuscitation
Skin burns
Long terms disabilities
Myocardial injury
Death

Prognosis

References

↑ Holmberg M, Holmberg S, Herlitz J (March 2000). “Incidence, duration and survival of ventricular fibrillation in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest patients in sweden”. Resuscitation. 44 (1): 7–17. doi:10.1016/s0300-9572(99)00155-0. PMID 10699695.
↑ Geocadin RG, Koenig MA, Jia X, Stevens RD, Peberdy MA (May 2008). “Management of brain injury after resuscitation from cardiac arrest”. Neurol Clin. 26 (2): 487–506, ix. doi:10.1016/j.ncl.2008.03.015. PMC 3074242. PMID 18514823.

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[pmid10699695-1] Holmberg M, Holmberg S, Herlitz J (March 2000). “Incidence, duration and survival of ventricular fibrillation in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest patients in sweden”. Resuscitation. 44 (1): 7–17. doi:10.1016/s0300-9572(99)00155-0. PMID 10699695.

[pmid18514823-2] Geocadin RG, Koenig MA, Jia X, Stevens RD, Peberdy MA (May 2008). “Management of brain injury after resuscitation from cardiac arrest”. Neurol Clin. 26 (2): 487–506, ix. doi:10.1016/j.ncl.2008.03.015. PMC 3074242. PMID 18514823.

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