Factors Related to the Initiation of Ventricular Fibrillation in the Isolated Heart: Effect of Calcium and Potassium

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Abstract
Ventricular fibrillation can be initiated in the isolated, perfused heart by injections of calcium chloride into the perfusion stream. It can also be initiated by perfusion with a K+-free perfusion medium. These are related phenomena since the latter type of fibrillation will not occur if Ca++ is also removed from the perfusion medium. The mechanism by which Ca++ initiates fibrillation is unknown. The facility with which Ca++ causes fibrillation is increased when the K+ concentration of the tissue fluid is lowered. When it is very low the normal Ca++ content of Krebs solution is sufficient to initiate fibrillation.