As a medical professional with expertise in emergency medicine, I can explain that a non-shockable rhythm refers to a specific type of cardiac arrest rhythm that is not typically treated with immediate defibrillation. There are two main types of rhythms seen in cardiac arrest: shockable and non-shockable. In the context of cardiac arrest, shockable rhythms are those that may respond to an electric shock, specifically ventricular fibrillation (VF) and pulseless ventricular tachycardia (VTach). These are considered emergencies that require immediate defibrillation. On the other hand, non-shockable rhythms include asystole (flatline, no electrical activity) and pulseless electrical activity (PEA), which are not treated with a shock but rather with cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and advanced life support interventions aimed at identifying and treating the underlying cause. It's important to note that the approach to treating these rhythms can vary based on the specific circumstances and the protocols followed by the medical team. read more >>

The cardiac arrest treatment algorithm divides cardiopulmonary resuscitation into the treatment of shockable rhythms - ventricular fibrillation (VF) and pulseless ventricular tachycardia (VT) (Figure 1); and the treatment of non-shockable rhythms - asystole and pulseless electrical activity (PEA) (Figure 2).read more >>