What Is the Most Common Type of Arrhythmia That Causes Sudden Cardiac Death

Sudden cardiac death is most commonly caused by ventricular fibrillation (VF), which is considered the most dangerous type of arrhythmia. VF has the highest incidence rate among all arrhythmias leading to sudden cardiac arrest. When a patient experiences ventricular fibrillation, the most effective and immediate treatment is defibrillation using an automated external defibrillator (AED). In situations where an AED is not immediately available, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) should be initiated promptly to manage the life-threatening arrhythmia.

Emergency Response to Ventricular Fibrillation

To assist a patient in cardiac arrest due to VF, chest compressions should be performed first. Place your hands on the center of the chest, at the midpoint between the two nipples. The recommended compression depth is approximately 5 to 6 centimeters, with a rate of 100 to 120 compressions per minute. After compressions, it's important to open the airway and provide rescue breaths. The compression-to-ventilation ratio should be maintained at 30:2.

Performing CPR Correctly

This cycle of 30 compressions followed by 2 rescue breaths should be repeated continuously for five full cycles. This approach helps maintain blood circulation and oxygen delivery to vital organs until a defibrillator becomes available. Once the AED is ready, immediate defibrillation should be administered to restore normal heart rhythm and stabilize the patient's condition.