Which statement best describes ventricular fibrillation in the context of cardiac arrest?

• A. The patient is stable; observe
• B. The patient is in cardiac arrest; CPR and defibrillation
• C. Administer anticoagulation
• D. Treat with verapamil

Answer: (B)

Ventricular fibrillation is a chaotic, disorganized electrical activity of the ventricles that produces no effective contraction and no pulse, leading to cardiac arrest. In this situation, the priority is immediate high-quality CPR to provide blood flow and rapid defibrillation to halt the chaotic electrical activity and restore a perfusing rhythm. This is why the statement that the patient is in cardiac arrest and needs CPR and defibrillation best fits. Anticoagulation isn’t part of the acute arrest management and would not address the immediate need to restore circulation, and verapamil would not be appropriate during arrest because it depresses conduction and could worsen the situation.