Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 30, 2025
Preclinical Cardiac Electrophysiology Assessment by Dual Voltage and Calcium Optical Mapping of Human Organotypic Cardiac Slices
Published on: June 16, 2020
Clinical electrophysiology of the aging heart
Kyle Murray1, Muizz Wahid2, Kannayiram Alagiakrishnan3
1Division of Cardiology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
Introduction:
Advancements in medical and consumer-grade technologies have made it easier than ever to monitor a patient's heart rhythm and to diagnose arrhythmias. Octogenarians with symptomatic arrhythmias have unique management challenges due to their frailty, complex drug interactions, cognitive impairment, and competing comorbidities. The management decisions are further complicated by the lack of randomized evidence to guide treatment.
Areas Covered:
A comprehensive literature review was undertaken to outline various tachyarrhythmias and bradyarrhythmias and their management, the role of cardiac implantable electronic devices, cardiac ablations, and specific geriatric arrhythmia considerations as recommended in international guidelines.
Expert Opinion:
Atrial fibrillation (AF) is arguably the most important arrhythmia in the elderly and is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Early diagnosis of AF, potentially with smart devices (wearables), has the potential to reduce the incidence of stroke, systemic emboli, and the risk of dementia. Bradyarrhythmias have a high incidence in the elderly as well, often requiring implantation of a permanent pacemaker. Leadless pacemakers implanted directly into the right ventricle are great options for gaining traction in elderly patients.
Related Concept Videos
01:19Electrophysiology of Normal Cardiac Rhythm
01:29Electrocardiogram
Three major waveforms are present in a typical ECG recording: the P wave, the QRS complex, and...
01:28Mechanism of Cardiac Arrhythmias
01:29Heart Failure II: Pathophysiology
01:30Cardiac Action Potential
The cardiac action potential process involves a series of phases characterized by the movement of ions across the cardiac cell membranes, leading to the depolarization and repolarization of the cardiac myocytes.
Ionic Basis of Cardiac Action Potentials
01:28Electrocardiogram Fundamentals
An electrocardiogram (ECG) is a diagnostic tool for identifying cardiac conditions such as arrhythmias, conduction abnormalities, and myocardial ischemia.
Definition
An electrocardiogram (ECG) visualizes the heart's electrical activity by tracing the electrical movement associated with each heartbeat on a graph or monitor. As the heart beats, an electrical wave passes through it, correlating with the cardiac cycle events.
Parts of an ECG
An ECG utilizes electrodes on the skin...