____ arrhythmia most frequently results from lower energy AC exposures whereas ____ is more common after exposure to higher energy DC.

____ arrhythmia most frequently results from lower energy AC exposures whereas ____ is more common after exposure to higher energy DC.

• A. Ventricular fibrillation; asystole
• B. Asystole; ventricular fibrillation
• C. Ventricular tachycardia; ventricular fibrillation
• D. Atrial fibrillation; ventricular tachycardia

Answer: (A)

Lower-energy alternating-current exposures more frequently disrupt the heart’s electrical activity in a way that leads to chaotic, unsustained ventricular contractions known as ventricular fibrillation. The alternating current keeps re-depolarizing the myocardium during the vulnerable part of the cardiac cycle, making VF the common outcome with AC. In contrast, higher-energy direct-current exposures deliver a single, strong depolarizing impulse and can drive the heart into a complete standstill, or asystole, rather than sustaining a chaotic rhythm. The energy with DC tends to block ongoing electrical activity rather than perpetuate the rapid, disorganized firing seen with VF. So, pairing ventricular fibrillation with asystole fits the typical pattern: low-energy AC → VF; high-energy DC → asystole.

Lower-energy alternating-current exposures more frequently disrupt the heart’s electrical activity in a way that leads to chaotic, unsustained ventricular contractions known as ventricular fibrillation. The alternating current keeps re-depolarizing the myocardium during the vulnerable part of the cardiac cycle, making VF the common outcome with AC.

In contrast, higher-energy direct-current exposures deliver a single, strong depolarizing impulse and can drive the heart into a complete standstill, or asystole, rather than sustaining a chaotic rhythm. The energy with DC tends to block ongoing electrical activity rather than perpetuate the rapid, disorganized firing seen with VF.

So, pairing ventricular fibrillation with asystole fits the typical pattern: low-energy AC → VF; high-energy DC → asystole.