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Common Atrial and Ventricular Arrhythmias

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Comprehensive Cardiovascular Medicine in the Primary Care Setting

Part of the book series: Contemporary Cardiology ((CONCARD))

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Abstract

Cardiac arrhythmias and their clinical correlates form the basis for some of the most intriguing aspects of cardiac care. During training, however, emphasis is often placed on care related to congestive heart failure, myocardial infarction, and the treatment of dyslipidemias. Unfortunately, patient complaints related to cardiac arrhythmias are often a common reason for a patient’s presentation to emergency rooms, for office visits, and for referrals to subspecialists.

Key Points

• Appropriate history taking facilitates arrhythmia diagnosis.

• A systematic approach to ECG interpretation helps avoid diagnostic pitfalls.

• Many clinical syndromes are due to a continuum of cardiovascular disease.

• Atrial fibrillation and atrial flutter are often grouped together but comprise distinct clinical entities.

• Genetic cardiac diseases and their evaluation are growing in today’s clinical practice.

• Guidelines have been published on the evaluation and treatment of a myriad of cardiac arrhythmic syndromes.

• Antiarrhythmic drug therapy is often giving way to aggressive therapy with pacemaker, implantable cardioverter–defibrillators, and invasive arrhythmia ablation.

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  1. Sterling Rock Falls Clinic, 101 E. Miller Road, Sterling, 61081, USA

    Peter P. Toth

  2. Brigham & Women's Hospital, Cardiovascular Division, Harvard Medical School, Longwood Ave. 350, Boston, 02115, USA

    Christopher P. Cannon

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© 2011 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC

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Foreman, B. (2011). Common Atrial and Ventricular Arrhythmias. In: Toth, P., Cannon, C. (eds) Comprehensive Cardiovascular Medicine in the Primary Care Setting. Contemporary Cardiology. Humana Press, Totowa, NJ. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-60327-963-5_24

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-60327-963-5_24

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