How is defibrillation typically performed?

Defibrillation is a critical procedure used in emergency medicine to treat life-threatening cardiac arrhythmias, specifically ventricular fibrillation and pulseless ventricular tachycardia. The primary mechanism of defibrillation involves delivering controlled electrical shocks to the heart to restore its normal rhythm. These shocks disrupt the chaotic electrical activity of the heart, allowing it to re-establish a coordinated rhythm.

The process of defibrillation is typically conducted using a device called a defibrillator, which can be either automated or manual. In automated external defibrillators (AEDs), the device analyzes the heart's rhythm and advises whether a shock is needed. In manual defibrillators, healthcare providers make the decision to deliver a shock based on their assessment of the patient's condition. Thus, delivering electrical shocks is the most effective and widely accepted method of performing defibrillation, making it the correct answer.

Other options such as using manual pressure, administering medications, or surgical intervention do not describe the defibrillation process accurately, as they relate to different forms of medical treatment rather than the specific approach of delivering electrical shocks to the heart.