Pathogenesis (disease development)
Ventricular fibrillation is a cardiac arrhythmia with very rapid, irregular contractions of the heart without ejection of blood into the circulation, resulting in circulatory arrest.
Etiology (Causes)
Disease-related causes
- Cardiomyopathy (heart muscle weakness).
- Coronary artery disease – atherosclerosis (arteriosclerosis, hardening of the arteries) of the coronary arteries.
- Myocardial infarction (heart attack)
Medication
- Antiarrhythmics – medications for cardiac arrhythmias such as ajmaline or lidocaine.