Kammiovibrillaatio

Kammiovärinä, often referred to as ventricular fibrillation (VF or V-fib), is a life-threatening cardiac arrhythmia characterized by rapid, uncoordinated contractions of the ventricles, the heart's lower chambers. Instead of a steady pumping action, the ventricles quiver erratically. This electrical chaos prevents the heart from effectively pumping blood to the rest of the body, leading to a sudden loss of consciousness and cessation of a palpable pulse.

The primary cause of kammiovärinä is typically damage to the heart muscle, often due to a heart attack (myocardial infarction). Other contributing factors can include severe electrolyte imbalances, certain heart conditions like hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, and electrical shock. Without prompt intervention, kammiovärinä results in cardiac arrest and death within minutes.

The hallmark symptom is sudden collapse. Individuals experiencing kammiovärinä will lose consciousness almost immediately. There will be no detectable pulse or breathing. The diagnosis is confirmed by an electrocardiogram (ECG), which will show a chaotic, irregular waveform instead of the normal, organized electrical pattern of the heart.

The immediate and most crucial treatment for kammiovärinä is defibrillation, an electrical shock delivered to the chest to reset the heart's electrical activity. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) should be initiated immediately while preparing for defibrillation. Prompt medical attention and advanced cardiac life support are essential for survival. Following a kammiovärinä event, long-term management may involve medications to prevent recurrence and potentially an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD).