Which rhythms are considered shockable during ACLS?

During Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS), it is crucial to recognize which cardiac rhythms are deemed shockable, meaning they can potentially be treated with defibrillation to restore a normal heart rhythm. The rhythms classified as shockable include ventricular fibrillation and pulseless ventricular tachycardia, both of which are critical, life-threatening conditions.

Ventricular fibrillation is characterized by chaotic electrical activity in the heart, which prevents the heart from effectively pumping blood. Pulseless ventricular tachycardia, while it may initially produce a significant heart rate, does not generate enough cardiac output to sustain life when there is no detectable pulse. In both cases, the goal of defibrillation is to reset the heart’s electrical activity and allow it to resume a coordinated rhythm, thus restoring effective circulation.

Other rhythms listed, such as atrial fibrillation, junctional rhythm, asystole, and PEA (pulseless electrical activity), are not treated with defibrillation due to their nature. Asystole represents a flatline on the monitor, indicating no electrical activity, while PEA shows organized electrical activity without effective mechanical heart function. Both require different interventions, like medication and advanced resuscitation techniques, rather than shock. Recogn