Patient Care Technician (PCT) AAH Practice Exam

Why is defibrillation performed?

1. To increase heart rate

2. To restore normal cardiac rhythm

3. To reduce blood pressure

4. To block arrhythmia

The correct answer is: To restore normal cardiac rhythm

Defibrillation is performed primarily to restore normal cardiac rhythm in individuals experiencing life-threatening arrhythmias, such as ventricular fibrillation or pulseless ventricular tachycardia. These arrhythmias involve chaotic or ineffective electrical activity in the heart that prevents it from functioning properly, meaning it cannot pump blood effectively to the rest of the body. By delivering an electric shock to the heart, defibrillation aims to reset the electrical system, allowing the heart to regain a normal rhythm and function effectively again. While the heart can be affected by changes in heart rate, the specific goal of defibrillation is not to simply increase or decrease the heart rate but rather to correct the underlying rhythm disturbance. The procedure does not directly involve lowering blood pressure nor does it primarily focus on blocking arrhythmias; instead, it seeks to terminate the aberrant electrical activity altogether. Thus, the emphasis on restoring a normal cardiac rhythm highlights the life-saving role of defibrillation in emergency situations.