Shockable Rhythms

Some notes on an informational sheet on shockable rhythms and their types.

Ventricular tachycardia (VT)

Condition where the ventricles contract rapidly, resulting in the heart beating three or more consecutive beats of more than 100 beats per minute

Sustained ventricular tachycardia (Sustained VT)

Condition where the heart beats rapidly for more than 30 seconds which can lead to hemodynamic instability and cardiac arrest

Hemodynamic instability

The medical term for insufficient blood flow to the body

Nonsustained ventricular tachycardia (Nonsustained VT)

Condition where the heart beats rapidly for less than 30 seconds and the incident does not lead to hemodynamic insability, resolving without the need for intervention

Shockable rhythms

• Ventricular tachycardia (V-tach)

• Ventricular fibrillation (V-fib)

Nonshockable rhythms

• Asystole (no electrical activity present; requires CPR and epinephrine)

Ventricular fibrillation

Condition in the heart where the ventricles quiver instead of fully contracting, leading to the inability to pump blood effectively and potentially cardiac arrest and death