Patient/caregiver was educated upon complications of ventricular fibrillation as follows:

• Hypotension: The ineffective and rapid contractions of the heart chambers with ventricular fibrillation result in reduced output of blood from the heart, leading to low blood volume in circulation, hypotension with dizziness and lightheadedness. Also, reduced blood supply to brain, secondary to hypotension and reduced output from heart, can contribute to altered level of consciousness. Eventually, this increases risk for falls and accidents.
• Heart failure: The ineffective and rapid contractions of the heart chambers result in reduced emptying of the chambers and compromised pumping of blood into circulation. Back up of blood in the cardiac chambers can lead to increased blood volume and pressure in the heart chambers, resulting in enlargement of the heart, progressive weakening of heart muscle, and heart failure. Patients can present with swelling of the extremities with pitting edema.
• Exacerbation of SOB: Reduced output of oxygenated blood from the heart will result in reduced blood and oxygen supply to all the vital organs, contributing to increased dyspnea and SOB. Also, fluid back-up into the lungs can lead to fluid retention in the chest, pulmonary edema, difficulty in gas exchange in the lungs, poor oxygen pick-up, and exacerbation of shortness of breath.