Certified Pediatric Emergency Nurse (CPEN) Exam 2025 – 400 Free Practice Questions to Pass the Exam

Defibrillation is specifically indicated for certain life-threatening cardiac rhythms, primarily those that are chaotic and not compatible with effective cardiac output. In children, both ventricular fibrillation and pulseless ventricular tachycardia are such rhythms that require immediate defibrillation.

Ventricular fibrillation is characterized by disorganized electrical activity in the ventricles, leading to ineffective contractions and a lack of effective blood circulation. This is a critical emergency requiring prompt defibrillation to restore a normal rhythm and circulation.

Pulseless ventricular tachycardia, on the other hand, features a rapid heart rate that does not allow for sufficient filling of the heart chambers, resulting in inadequate cardiac output. Like ventricular fibrillation, it also necessitates defibrillation to restore a sustainable heart rhythm.

These two rhythms are encompassed in the treatment protocol due to their high mortality risk without timely intervention. Defibrillation delivers an electrical shock to the heart, aimed at resetting the electrical activity and allowing a normal sinus rhythm to resume. This context highlights the critical need to recognize and treat these rhythms effectively in pediatric emergency care settings.