The first recorded heart rhythm for cardiac arrest patients can either be ventricular fibrillation (VF) which is treatable with a defibrillator, or asystole or pulseless electrical activity (PEA) which are not. The time course for the deterioration of VF to either asystole or PEA is not well understood. Knowing the time course of this deterioration may allow for improvements in emergency service delivery. In addition, this may improve the diagnosis of possible electrocutions from various electrical sources including utility power, electric fences, or electronic control devices (ECDs) such as a TASER ® ECD. © 2012 IEEE.
