What is defibrillation used for?

Defibrillation is a medical procedure aimed at treating life-threatening cardiac arrhythmias, specifically fibrillation. Fibrillation occurs when the heart's electrical activity becomes chaotic, causing the heart to beat ineffectively and, in some cases, results in cardiac arrest. The primary goal of defibrillation is to deliver an electric shock to the heart. This shock helps to reset the heart's electrical system, stopping the irregular rhythm and allowing the heart's natural pacemaker to reestablish a normal rhythm.

In this context, the choice indicating defibrillation is used to stop fibrillation and restore normal heart rhythm accurately describes its purpose and mechanism of action. Other options, while related to heart and respiratory health, do not capture the specific intent and application of defibrillation as effectively. For example, preventing cardiac abnormalities may involve various preventive measures rather than immediate intervention like defibrillation. Enhancing oxygen flow and stimulating respiratory function address different aspects of patient care and are not the primary focus of defibrillation, which is specifically about correcting life-threatening heart rhythms.