Which of the following is classified as a shockable rhythm?

Ventricular Fibrillation (VF) is classified as a shockable rhythm because it is a chaotic electrical activity in the heart that prevents effective blood pumping, leading to a lack of circulation. The primary treatment for VF is defibrillation, which delivers a dose of electric current to the heart. This shocks the heart, allowing it to potentially re-establish a normal rhythm.

In contrast, asystole indicates no electrical activity in the heart and represents a flatline on an electrocardiogram, where defibrillation would not be effective. Similarly, Pulseless Electrical Activity (PEA) may show electrical activity on the monitor, but it is not organized enough to produce a pulse, and shock therapy is not indicated as it is typically related to underlying issues that need to be corrected rather than simply removing the abnormal rhythm. Understanding these distinctions is crucial in emergency cardiac care, as the protocols for treatment differ significantly between shockable and non-shockable rhythms.