A patient with a shockable initial rhythm is more likely to survive if quickly defibrillated ("shocked"). This is an important predictor of survival following a cardiac arrest.
Shockable rhythms include:
(1) ventricular tachycardia
(2) ventricular fibrillation
(3) shock by an AED
Nonshockable rhythm:
(1) asystole
(2) pulseless electrical activity
Supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) may be treated with synchronized cardioversion rather than defibrillation.
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