Ventricular fibrillation (VF), often called "V-Fib" is an abnormal heart rhythm often seen in sudden cardiac arrest. This rhythm is caused by an abnormal and very fast electrical activity in the heart. VF is chaotic and unorganized; the heart just quivers and cannot effectively pump blood. VF will be short lived and will deteriorate to asystole (a flat line) if not treated promptly. The treatment for "V-Fib" is defibrillation.

The only effective treatment for VF is an electrical shock called defibrillation. Defibrillation is an electrical current applied to the chest. The electrical current passes through the heart with the goal of stopping the VF and giving an opportunity for the heart's normal electrical system to take control. This current helps the heart reorganize the electrical activity so it can pump blood again. An automated external defibrillator (AED) can defibrillate the heart.

With proper attention, AF is not generally a life-threatening condition. But patients with Atrial Fibrillation do have a reduced cardiac output and are faced with an increased risk of developing bloodclots (thrombus). Blood in the atria may pool and clot. If a clot breaks loose and advances to the brain, a stroke can result. Short episodes of Atrial Fibrillation don't cause any injury to the heart in general.

Atrial fibrillation (A fib) is one of the most common heart rhythm disorders, affecting more than two million people in the United States. In A fib, the heart beats rapidly and irregularly. Although not directly life threatening, A fib can cause palpitations, other rhythm problems, chronic fatigue, shortness of breath, chest pain, dizziness and stroke. The chance of a stroke is increased five-fold in patients with A fib.

In some kinds of Hydrocephalus known as "non communicating" (because there is no communication between the ventricles and the spaces around the brain, where the CSF is absorbed), a Third Ventricular Cisternostomy can be done.

Acute myocardial infarction: Stroke occurs as a complication in 2-4% of patients with myocardial infarction (MI). Stroke seems to be more common after an anterior infarct. Embolization is most common within the first 3-4 months, with the highest risk in the first month. Thus, it is important to exclude acute MI in all patients who present with stroke and to recall that more than 20% of nonfatal MI are silent.

Atrial fibrillation (AF) may be paroxysmal or chronic and is found in about 0.4% of the adult population. The prevalence of AF increases with age and is detected in about 15% of normal people over 75 years. Globally, AF increases the relative risk of stroke by six times and is associated with an absolute risk of approximately 5-8% per year.

A number of echocardiographic features have been proposed as predictors of thromboembolism in patients with atrial fibrillation. Features shown by transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) or transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) are predictive of this increased risk: left atrial enlargement, spontaneous echo contrast in left atri-um, left-ventricular dysfunction, increased left-ventricular mass, and mitral annular calcification.

The doctor will ask questions about your past health, do a physical exam, and order tests. The best way to find out if you have atrial fibrillation is to have an electrocardiogram (EKG or ECG). An EKG is a test that checks for problems with the heart's electrical activity. You might also have lab tests, a chest X-ray, and an echocardiogram. An echocardiogram can show how well your heart is pumping and whether your heart valves are damaged.

Atrial fibrillation is often the result of heart disease or damage. So making changes that improve the condition of your heart may also improve your overall health. Don't smoke. Avoid secondhand smoke, too. Quitting smoking can quickly reduce your risk of stroke and heart attack. Eat a heart-healthy diet with plenty of fish, fruits, vegetables, beans, high-fiber grains and breads, and olive oil. Get regular exercise on most, preferably all, days of the week.

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Approximately 2.2 million Americans suffer from Atrial Fibrillation (AF). 1 Physicians diagnose an average of 160,000 new cases each year.

Although research indicates contributing factors to the disease, there is no single known cause of AF. In some people, it is thought to be caused by other conditions, such as overactive thyroid, heart attack, hypertension, and certain kinds of heart failure; in others the cause cannot be identified.

In patients with atrial fibrillation, the following situations are considered as risk factors for stroke: Figures given by the multivariate analysis of predictors of stroke in control patients enrolled in randomized controlled trials on warfarin in the primary prevention of stroke in patients with atria] fibrillation.

The annual risk of stroke among people with non-rheumatic atrial fibrillation is on average 5% per year, increasing with age and other major risk factors. Recent data suggest that patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (AF) and chronic AF have a similar risk of stroke. Furthermore, a third of patients with paroxysmal AF develop chronic AF over 2-3 years. The risk is similar in men and in women.