Ventricular fibrillation causes

	Ventricular fibrillation Microchapters
Home
Patient Information
Overview
Historical Perspective
Pathophysiology
Causes
Differentiating Ventricular Fibrillation from other Diseases
Epidemiology and Demographics
Risk Factors
Natural History, Complications and Prognosis
Diagnosis
History and Symptoms
Physical Examination
Laboratory Findings
Electrocardiogram
EKG examples
X-ray
Echocardiography and Ultrasound
CT scan
MRI
Other Imaging Findings
Other Diagnostic Studies
Treatment
Medical Therapy
Surgery
Primary Prevention
Secondary Prevention
Cost-Effectiveness of Therapy
Future or Investigational Therapies
Case Studies
Case #1
Ventricular fibrillation causes On the Web
Most recent articles
Most cited articles
Review articles
CME Programs
Powerpoint slides
Images
American Roentgen Ray Society Images of Ventricular fibrillation causes All Images X-rays Echo & Ultrasound CT Images MRI
Ongoing Trials at Clinical Trials.gov
US National Guidelines Clearinghouse
NICE Guidance
FDA on Ventricular fibrillation causes
CDC on Ventricular fibrillation causes
Ventricular fibrillation causes in the news
Blogs on Ventricular fibrillation causes
Directions to Hospitals Treating Ventricular fibrillation
Risk calculators and risk factors for Ventricular fibrillation causes

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Ogheneochuko Ajari, MB.BS, MS [2]

Overview

The heart pumps blood to the lungs, brain, and other organs. Interruption of the heartbeat for only a few seconds can lead to fainting (syncope) or cardiac arrest. Fibrillation is an uncontrolled twitching or quivering of muscle fibers (fibrils). When it occurs in the lower chambers of the heart, it is called ventricular fibrillation. During ventricular fibrillation, blood is not pumped from the heart. Sudden cardiac death results. The most common cause of VF is a heart attack. However, VF can occur whenever the heart muscle does not get enough oxygen.

Causes

Life Threatening Causes

Life-threatening causes include conditions which may result in death or permanent disability within 24 hours if left untreated.

Common Causes

Causes by Organ System

Cardiovascular	Abnormal automaticity, acute myocardial rupture, aortic dissection, aortic stenosis, arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia, Brugada syndrome, cardiomyopathies, commotio cordis, complete heart block, congenital heart disease, coronary artery spasm, dilated cardiomyopathy, heart attack, heart block, heart surgery, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, hypokalemia, hypoxia, ischemic stroke, myocardial infarction, myocardial ischemia, myocarditis, pericardial tamponade, preexcitation syndrome, prolonged QT syndrome, pulmonary embolism, pulmonary hypertension, re-entry or circus motion, short QT syndrome, sudden cardiac death, sudden infant death syndrome, Sumatriptan, torsade de pointes, unstable angina, valvular heart disease, Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome
Chemical/Poisoning	Belladonna, environmental poisoning
Dental	No underlying causes
Dermatologic	No underlying causes
Drug Side Effect	Amiodarone, calcium chloride, calcium gluconate, Eletriptan, ergotamine tartrate, Fosphenytoin sodium, ibutilide, increased catecholamine levels, medications, phenobarbital, pramipexole, proarrhythmic drugs
Ear Nose Throat	No underlying causes
Endocrine	Increased catecholamine levels
Environmental	Environmental poisoning
Gastroenterologic	No underlying causes
Genetic	Brugada syndrome, congenital heart disease
Hematologic	Pulmonary embolism
Iatrogenic	No underlying causes
Infectious Disease	Myocarditis, sepsis
Musculoskeletal/Orthopedic	No underlying causes
Neurologic	Intracranial hemorrhage, ischemic stroke, Pickwickian syndrome, sleep apnea
Nutritional/Metabolic	Acid-base disturbances, electrolyte imbalance
Obstetric/Gynecologic	No underlying causes
Oncologic	No underlying causes
Ophthalmologic	No underlying causes
Overdose/Toxicity	No underlying causes
Psychiatric	No underlying causes
Pulmonary	Aspiration, bronchospasm, hypoxia, Pickwickian syndrome, pulmonary embolism, pulmonary hypertension, sudden infant death syndrome, tension pneumothorax
Renal/Electrolyte	Electrolyte imbalance, hypokalemia
Rheumatology/Immunology/Allergy	No underlying causes
Sexual	No underlying causes
Trauma	Electric shock, electrocution
Urologic	No underlying causes
Miscellaneous	Drowning, hyperthermia, hypothermia, idiopathic,

Causes in Alphabetical Order^[1]^[2]

References

↑ Sailer, Christian, Wasner, Susanne. Differential Diagnosis Pocket. Hermosa Beach, CA: Borm Bruckmeir Publishing LLC, 2002:77 ISBN 1591032016
↑ Kahan, Scott, Smith, Ellen G. In A Page: Signs and Symptoms. Malden, Massachusetts: Blackwell Publishing, 2004:68 ISBN 140510368X
↑ Jain PK, Sharma AK, Agarwal N, Jain PK, Sengar NS, Agarwal N; et al. (2013). "A prospective clinical study of myocarditis in cases of acute ingestion of paraphenylene diamine (hair dye) poisoning in northern India". J Assoc Physicians India. 61 (9): 633–6, 644. PMID 24772701.

Template:WH Template:WS

[1] Sailer, Christian, Wasner, Susanne. Differential Diagnosis Pocket. Hermosa Beach, CA: Borm Bruckmeir Publishing LLC, 2002:77 ISBN 1591032016

[2] Kahan, Scott, Smith, Ellen G. In A Page: Signs and Symptoms. Malden, Massachusetts: Blackwell Publishing, 2004:68 ISBN 140510368X

[pmid24772701-3] Jain PK, Sharma AK, Agarwal N, Jain PK, Sengar NS, Agarwal N; et al. (2013). "A prospective clinical study of myocarditis in cases of acute ingestion of paraphenylene diamine (hair dye) poisoning in northern India". J Assoc Physicians India. 61 (9): 633–6, 644. PMID 24772701.

[1]

[2]

[3]