At approximately 50-200 milliamps of current, which sensation is associated?

• A. Paralysis of Breathing
• B. Ventricular Fibrillation
• C. No Sensation
• D. Normal pulse

Answer: (B)

The important idea is how electrical current interacts with the heart’s rhythm. When current in the tens to a couple hundred milliamps flows through the chest, especially alternating current, it can drive the heart into a chaotic pattern rather than a coordinated beat. That chaotic rhythm is ventricular fibrillation, where the ventricles quiver and fail to pump blood effectively. As a result, the pulse can disappear and consciousness can be lost quickly if not treated, making this range the one most closely linked to a dangerous cardiac event. Paralysis of breathing tends to appear at higher currents or with longer exposure, and saying there is no sensation isn’t accurate here because the heart’s disturbance is the critical outcome. A normal pulse would not occur once ventricular fibrillation is present.