What is the main therapeutic goal of defibrillation?

The main therapeutic goal of defibrillation is to restore normal heart rhythm. Defibrillation is a medical procedure that delivers a controlled electric shock to the heart, which can interrupt abnormal electrical activity that is causing life-threatening cardiac arrhythmias, such as ventricular fibrillation or pulseless ventricular tachycardia. By applying this shock, the intention is to reset the heart's electrical state, allowing for the natural pacemaker of the heart to resume its role in maintaining a normal rhythm. This process is critical in emergency situations, where immediate action is necessary to prevent cardiac arrest becoming fatal.

Other options like increasing heart rate or lowering blood pressure may be relevant in different contexts of cardiovascular management, but they do not specifically address the primary purpose of defibrillation. Additionally, improving blood circulation can be a consequence of restoring normal heart rhythm, but it is not the direct aim of defibrillation itself. The focus remains on correcting the chaotic electrical activity so that the heart can function properly again.