Acoustic cardiographic recording during ventricular fibrillation.

Abstract

This is the second case report in literature that describes the simultaneous acoustic cardiographic, electrocardiographic, and invasive hemodynamic events that occurred before, during and after ventricular fibrillation that was successfully cardioverted to sinus rhythm. The absence of heart sounds, which are linked to the lack of effective myocardial contractility, correlated well with invasive hemodynamic data, indicating the lack of perfusion during ventricular fibrillation. These observations, coupled with the challenges of pulse detection as a sign of adequate perfusion during resuscitation suggest that acoustic cardiography may be a potentially effective supplemental diagnostic tool during the resuscitation of malignant arrhythmias.