An unconscious patient is bought in by EMS into an ER trauma room. Patient has no detectable pulse, and the ECG baseline waveform shows grossly irregular fluctuations with a zigzag pattern

What is the course of action to treat this patient?
1. Rapid defibrillation
2. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation
3. Administration of oxygen
4. Administration of an antiarrhythmic medication
a. 1, 2, and 3 only
b. 2 and 4 only
c. 3 only
d. 1, 2, 3, and 4

ANS: D
Ventricular fibrillation (VF) is the most life-threatening arrhythmia and is defined as erratic quiv-ering of the ventricular muscle mass. It causes the cardiac output to drop to zero; the patient be-comes unconscious and represents a true medical emergency. The electrocardiographic tracing of ventricular fibrillation shows grossly irregular fluctuations with a zigzag pattern. Treatment calls for rapid defibrillation, cardiopulmonary resuscitation, and administration of oxygen and anti-arrhythmic medications, as well as treatment of the underlying cause of the ischemia. Survivors of VF usually receive an internal cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD).