What is a principal treatment for ventricular fibrillation?

Ventricular fibrillation (VF) is a life-threatening arrhythmia characterized by rapid, chaotic electrical activity in the heart, which prevents it from pumping blood effectively. The principal treatment for ventricular fibrillation is defibrillation, a procedure that delivers a controlled electric shock to the heart. This shock interrupts the chaotic electrical activity, allowing the heart's normal rhythm to be restored.

Defibrillation is crucial because VF can lead to cardiac arrest and, without immediate intervention, can result in death within minutes. The application of defibrillation is time-sensitive; therefore, it is performed as soon as VF is identified during cardiac arrest management. Effective defibrillation increases the chances of survival and recovery in patients experiencing this critical condition.

Other treatments mentioned, such as cardioversion, beta blockers, and endotracheal intubation, may have roles in various cardiac conditions, but they are not the primary interventions for VF. Cardioversion is typically used for stable arrhythmias, beta blockers may be used for rate control in certain situations, and endotracheal intubation is primarily a method of securing the airway rather than treating the arrhythmia itself. Thus, defibrillation stands out as the definitive and emergent treatment for