What is defibrillation used for?

Defibrillation is a medical procedure aimed specifically at restoring the heart's normal rhythm, particularly in cases of life-threatening arrhythmias such as ventricular fibrillation or pulseless ventricular tachycardia. During a defibrillation event, an electric shock is delivered to the heart, which helps to depolarize the heart muscle all at once, allowing the natural pacemaker of the heart to re-establish a normal sinus rhythm. This technique is crucial in emergency situations where immediate restoration of normal cardiac function is necessary to prevent death.

The other choices pertain to functions that are not related to the primary purpose of defibrillation. Maintaining blood pressure relies on a stable cardiac output and vascular resistance rather than electrical intervention alone. Increasing blood flow to the brain involves optimizing cardiac output and circulation, which may not be directly addressed through defibrillation. Removal of excess fluid from the body is typically managed through diuretics or procedures like dialysis and does not involve defibrillation at all.