What is a common cause of ventricular fibrillation?

Ventricular fibrillation, a life-threatening arrhythmia characterized by uncoordinated electrical activity in the ventricles, commonly arises as a complication following myocardial infarction (MI). During an MI, the heart muscle suffers from a lack of adequate blood flow, which can lead to ischemia and damage to the myocardial tissue. This damage can disrupt the normal electrical conduction system of the heart, predisposing the patient to ventricular fibrillation.

In the context of MI, the affected areas of the heart can become electrically unstable, causing abnormal firing of impulses which may lead to this chaotic rhythm. Successful treatment often involves immediate defibrillation to restore a normal cardiac rhythm and prevent fatal outcomes.

Other options, such as bradycardia, atrial fibrillation, and cardiac arrest, are related to heart conditions but are less directly linked to the initiation of ventricular fibrillation. Bradycardia refers to a slower than normal heart rate, which can occur along a spectrum of heart dysfunction but does not directly cause ventricular fibrillation. Atrial fibrillation is an irregular rhythm originating from the atria; while it increases the risk for other complications, it doesn’t directly result in ventricular fibrillation. Cardiac arrest is the condition wherein the heart has stopped beating effectively