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Disturbances in Heart Rhythm

Disturbances in Heart Rhythm

Arrhythmia or dysrhythmia refers to an abnormal heart rhythm caused by a defect in the heart's conduction system. It can cause the heart to beat irregularly, too quickly, or too slowly, leading to symptoms like chest pain, shortness of breath, and fainting. Factors such as stress, caffeine, alcohol, nicotine, cocaine, certain drugs, congenital defects, diseases, and electrolyte abnormalities can trigger arrhythmias.
Arrhythmias are categorized by their speed, rhythm, and origin. A slow heart...

Drug Dosing: Geriatric Patients

Drug Dosing: Geriatric Patients

Elderly individuals encompass a diverse population with varying degrees of age-related physiological changes. Defining the elderly presents challenges, as the geriatric population is often arbitrarily categorized as individuals older than 65. However, many individuals in this group lead active and healthy lives, with an increasing number surpassing 85 years and falling into the older elderly category. Physiological changes associated with aging impact performance capacity and homeostatic...

Dysrhythmias III: Characteristics of Dysrhythmias

Dysrhythmias III: Characteristics of Dysrhythmias

Dysrhythmias, also known as arrhythmias, are irregular heart rhythms that result from abnormal electrical activity in the heart, affecting its ability to circulate blood efficiently. Tachyarrhythmias, a subset of dysrhythmias, are characterized by abnormally fast heart rates exceeding 100 beats per minute. Here are some types of tachyarrhythmias with their distinct ECG features:Sinus Tachycardia:Sinus tachycardia presents a regular heart rhythm with an increased rate of 101-180 beats per minute.

Heart Failure II: Pathophysiology

Heart Failure II: Pathophysiology

Systolic Heart Failure and Compensatory MechanismsSystolic heart failure (also termed HFrEF, Heart Failure with Reduced Ejection Fraction) is the most prevalent type of heart filure. It results in a decreased volume of blood being pumped from the ventricle. The aortic arch and carotid sinuses have baroreceptors that detect reduced blood pressure, triggering the sympathetic nervous system (SNS) to release epinephrine and norepinephrine. Initially, this response aims to boost heart rate and...

Heart Failure III: Clinical Manifestations

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Heart failure (HF) manifests primarily as dyspnea, fatigue, and fluid retention, resulting in peripheral and pulmonary edema. Symptoms may vary depending on which ventricle is more affected, left or right.Left-Sided Heart FailureAlso known as left ventricular failure, this condition results from the left ventricle's inability to fill or eject sufficient blood into the systemic circulation. It leads to pulmonary congestion, which occurs when the left ventricle fails to eject blood effectively...

ECG Interpretation of Arrhythmias II: Atrial, Junctional and Ventricular Arrhythmias

ECG Interpretation of Arrhythmias II: Atrial, Junctional and Ventricular Arrhythmias

Arrhythmia is a condition characterized by an irregular heart rhythm, with ECG changes that differ based on its origin and nature. The types of arrhythmias discussed below include atrial, junctional, and ventricular arrhythmias.Atrial ArrhythmiasPremature Atrial Complexes (PACs): PACs are early atrial beats caused by stress, caffeine, alcohol, electrolyte imbalances, hypoxia, hyperthyroidism, or certain medications (e.g., bronchodilators and decongestants). The ECG shows early P waves with an...

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Updated: Jul 11, 2026

The WATCHMAN Left Atrial Appendage Closure Device for Atrial Fibrillation

The WATCHMAN Left Atrial Appendage Closure Device for Atrial Fibrillation

Published on: February 28, 2012

Atrial fibrillation in the elderly.

¹Department of Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine, Massachusetts, USA.

Cardiology Clinics

|March 27, 1999

Summary

Atrial fibrillation, a common heart rhythm disorder, increases with age and can lead to stroke. Treatment involves maintaining normal rhythm or controlling heart rate, but the best approach requires individualization.

Area of Science:

Cardiology
Electrophysiology
Geriatric Medicine

Background:

Atrial fibrillation is the most prevalent sustained cardiac arrhythmia.
Its incidence escalates with age, significantly impacting the elderly population.
This condition is a major contributor to symptoms, morbidity, thromboembolism, and stroke.

Purpose of the Study:

To review current therapeutic strategies for atrial fibrillation.
To highlight the two primary management approaches: sinus rhythm maintenance versus rate control.
To emphasize the need for individualized treatment plans due to a lack of comparative data.

Main Methods:

Literature review of therapeutic options for atrial fibrillation.
Analysis of current clinical practice guidelines and evidence.

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Catheter Ablation in Combination With Left Atrial Appendage Closure for Atrial Fibrillation

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Estimating Bilateral Atrial Function by Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance Feature Tracking in Patients with Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation

Estimating Bilateral Atrial Function by Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance Feature Tracking in Patients with Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation

Published on: July 20, 2022

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Last Updated: Jul 11, 2026

The WATCHMAN Left Atrial Appendage Closure Device for Atrial Fibrillation

The WATCHMAN Left Atrial Appendage Closure Device for Atrial Fibrillation

Published on: February 28, 2012

Catheter Ablation in Combination With Left Atrial Appendage Closure for Atrial Fibrillation

Catheter Ablation in Combination With Left Atrial Appendage Closure for Atrial Fibrillation

Published on: February 26, 2013

Estimating Bilateral Atrial Function by Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance Feature Tracking in Patients with Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation

Estimating Bilateral Atrial Function by Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance Feature Tracking in Patients with Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation

Published on: July 20, 2022

Discussion of pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic interventions.

Main Results:

Two main therapeutic strategies exist: maintaining sinus rhythm or controlling the heart rate during atrial fibrillation.
No definitive data currently supports one approach over the other as universally superior.
Treatment decisions necessitate careful consideration of individual patient factors.

Conclusions:

Therapy for atrial fibrillation must be tailored to the individual patient.
Further research is needed to establish optimal treatment paradigms.
Individualized care is paramount in managing this common arrhythmia.