Health Dictionary
Reliable, easy-to-read patient information on common medical conditions — written in plain language, free of jargon, and grounded in current evidence. Browse the most frequent diagnoses, understand what they mean for everyday life, and learn which steps and questions help you have a focused conversation with your doctor.
Fibrillation
Introduction
Fibrillation is the rapid, irregular, and unsynchronized contraction of the muscle fibers of the heart. There are two major classes of fibrillation, atrial fibrillation and ventricular fibrillation.
- Atrial fibrillation can be a chronic condition, usually treated with anticoagulation and sometimes with conversion to normal sinus rhythm.
- Ventricular fibrillation is rapidly fatal if not reversed by defibrillation.
Fibrillation may sometimes be used after heart surgery to stop the heart from beating while any minor leaks are stitched up. Medifib
Links
- Simulated Ventricular Fibrillation Interactive Java applet, with information.
- Simulated Atrial Fibrillation Interactive Java applet, with information.
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]