Which statement about shockable rhythms is true?

Which statement about shockable rhythms is true?

• A. Ventricular fibrillation and pulseless VT are shockable.
• B. PEA is shockable.
• C. Asystole is shockable.
• D. All rhythms should be defibrillated first.

Answer: (A)

Shockable rhythms are those that can be interrupted by a defibrillating shock to reset the heart’s electrical activity. Ventricular fibrillation and pulseless ventricular tachycardia are the shockable rhythms; in ventricular fibrillation the heart’s electrical activity is chaotic and there’s no effective contraction, and in pulseless VT the rhythm is rapid and ineffective for pumping with no palpable pulse. A timely defibrillation can terminate these abnormal rhythms and, with CPR and appropriate meds, allow a return to a perfusing rhythm. Pulseless electrical activity and asystole, on the other hand, do not respond to defibrillation because they involve either no electrical activity or electrical activity without mechanical contraction, so defibrillation isn’t indicated. So the statement about ventricular fibrillation and pulseless VT being shockable is the true one.

Shockable rhythms are those that can be interrupted by a defibrillating shock to reset the heart’s electrical activity. Ventricular fibrillation and pulseless ventricular tachycardia are the shockable rhythms; in ventricular fibrillation the heart’s electrical activity is chaotic and there’s no effective contraction, and in pulseless VT the rhythm is rapid and ineffective for pumping with no palpable pulse. A timely defibrillation can terminate these abnormal rhythms and, with CPR and appropriate meds, allow a return to a perfusing rhythm. Pulseless electrical activity and asystole, on the other hand, do not respond to defibrillation because they involve either no electrical activity or electrical activity without mechanical contraction, so defibrillation isn’t indicated. So the statement about ventricular fibrillation and pulseless VT being shockable is the true one.