Ventricular fibrillation EKG examples
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]
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EKG examples
The EKG below shows irregular heart rhythm, heart rate of more than 300 per minute, QRS duration unrecognizable and absent P waves depicting ventricular fibrillation.
![](/images/6/65/Lead_II_rhythm_generated_ventricular_fibrilation_VF.jpg)
Copyleft image obtained courtesy of Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Lead_II_rhythm_generated_ventricular_fibrilation_VF.JPG
The EKG below shows irregular heart rhythm, heart rate of more than 300 per minute, QRS duration unrecognizable and absent P waves depicting ventricular fibrillation .
![](/images/b/b2/De-Rhythm_ventricular_fibrillation.png)
Copyleft image obtained courtesy of ECGpedia, http://en.ecgpedia.org/wiki/File:Rhythm_ventricular_fibrillation.png
The EKG below shows sinus rhythm converting into ventricular fibrillation wave pattern of irregular rhythm and unrecognizable QRS and P waves in all the leads depicting ventricular fibrillation.
![](/images/7/70/De-ECG_SR_to_VF_in_INF_MI.jpg)
Copyleft image obtained courtesy of ECGpedia, http://en.ecgpedia.org/wiki/File:ECG_SR_to_VF_in_INF_MI.jpg
The EKG below shows three panels which are continuous and represent the testing of a Medronic model 7219 defibrillator. The channels are a surface EKG lead, a ventricular intra-cardiac recording and a marker channel from the device.
The first panel shows rapid paced ventricular beats followed by a low energy shock which induces ventricular fibrillation. The shock is not on the T wave.
![](/images/a/a0/Ventricular_fibrillation.jpg)
Copyleft image obtained courtesy of ECGpedia, http://en.ecgpedia.org/wiki/File:E00031731.jpg
The second EKG of the panel below shows no identifiable QRS complexes and P waves, bizarre waveform depicting ventricular fibrillation. Note the readings of the marker channel.
![](/images/f/f5/Venticular_fibrillation_2.jpg)
Copyleft image obtained courtesy of ECGpedia, http://en.ecgpedia.org/wiki/File:E00031732.jpg
The last EKG of the panel below shows the termination of the ventricular fibrillation with a 20 joule shock and then ventricular pacing. Note the ST elevation of the paced beats.
![](/images/e/e1/Ventricular_fibrillation_3.jpg)
Copyleft image obtained courtesy of ECGpedia, http://en.ecgpedia.org/wiki/File:E00031733.jpg
The EKG monitor strip below shows induction of ventricular fibrillation with paced beats and a low energy T wave shock, termination of the ventricular fibrillation by the device and then the return to sinus rhythm. The tracing was made during the implantation of the defibrillator in a middle aged woman with ventricular tachycardia and a structurally normal heart. The recording was done during the testing of the defibrillator . Note the QT interval in this patient of 500 ms which is long for the heart rate of 60/min.
![](/images/2/21/Ventricular_fibrillation_4.jpg)
Copyleft image obtained courtesy of ECGpedia, http://en.ecgpedia.org/wiki/File:E00031733.jpg