[Diagnosis and therapy of ventricular tachycardia in heart failure]

In a survey diagnostic and therapeutic problems of the ventricular arrhythmias in cardiac insufficiency are described. It is expressed that prevalence and prognosis of the arrhythmia in cardiac insufficiency are not yet sufficiently investigated both in the acute and in the chronic phase. Furthermore, ascertained investigations concerning the effect of the individual antiarrhythmic drugs have not come to hand. Certain situations and preliminary electrocardiographic findings are to be regarded as premonitory signs; in the individual case they are entitled to a prophylactic therapy with antiarrhythmic drugs. The consideration of pharmacokinetic laws is particularly significant in the disturbed metabolization and the reduction of the hepatic blood in this phase.