Emergency resternotomy for ventricular fibrillation

Emergency resternotomy for ventricular fibrillation or pulseless ventricular tachycardia

A precordial thump may be successful if performed within 10 seconds of the onset of VF or pulseless VT; however, this should not delay cardioversion by defibrillation. In VF or pulseless VT , emergency resternotomy should be performed after three failed attempts at defibrillation.