What is the common outcome of lower energy AC exposures?

Lower energy alternating current (AC) electrical exposures typically result in ventricular fibrillation. This is primarily due to how the heart's electrical system reacts to the alternating current, which can disrupt the normal rhythm and lead to chaotic electrical activity. When the heart is exposed to low levels of AC, the electrical impulses from this exposure can create a disorganized cardiac rhythm, causing the heart to quiver rather than contract effectively, which is known as ventricular fibrillation.

While other outcomes like cardiac arrest, asystole, and heart block may occur with different types or intensities of electrical exposures, they are less common in the context of lower energy AC. Specifically, cardiac arrest refers to the cessation of effective heart function but does not always stem directly from low energy AC exposure as a primary mechanism, and asystole is a complete lack of electrical activity in the heart, which is not typically precipitated by low energy AC. Heart block, on the other hand, involves a disruption in the electrical conduction within the heart, and while it can be clinically significant, it is not the most likely outcome of low energy AC exposure compared to ventricular fibrillation.