Which rhythm is considered shockable and should prompt defibrillation when identified during pediatric resuscitation?

Which rhythm is considered shockable and should prompt defibrillation when identified during pediatric resuscitation?

• A. Asystole
• B. PEA
• C. Ventricular fibrillation or pulseless ventricular tachycardia
• D. Normal sinus rhythm

Answer: (C)

Shockable rhythms are the ones where the heart’s electrical activity is chaotic and the ventricles are not pumping effectively. In pediatric resuscitation, the rhythm that fits this is ventricular fibrillation or pulseless ventricular tachycardia. A defibrillator delivers a sudden electrical surge to depolarize the heart muscle all at once, allowing the natural pacemaking system to resume a coordinated rhythm and potentially restore a pulse. By contrast, asystole means there’s no electrical activity, and pulseless electrical activity means there is electrical activity without effective contraction; in both cases a shock would not terminate the arrest, so the focus is on high-quality CPR and appropriate medical therapy rather than defibrillation. Normal sinus rhythm is a normal, organized rhythm and does not indicate the need for shock.

Shockable rhythms are the ones where the heart’s electrical activity is chaotic and the ventricles are not pumping effectively. In pediatric resuscitation, the rhythm that fits this is ventricular fibrillation or pulseless ventricular tachycardia. A defibrillator delivers a sudden electrical surge to depolarize the heart muscle all at once, allowing the natural pacemaking system to resume a coordinated rhythm and potentially restore a pulse. By contrast, asystole means there’s no electrical activity, and pulseless electrical activity means there is electrical activity without effective contraction; in both cases a shock would not terminate the arrest, so the focus is on high-quality CPR and appropriate medical therapy rather than defibrillation. Normal sinus rhythm is a normal, organized rhythm and does not indicate the need for shock.