Cardiac arrhythmias

The diagnosis and management of heart rhythm abnormalities is often viewed as a complex and inaccessible area of modern cardiology shrouded in technical detail.

Fast Facts: Cardiac Arrhythmias demystifies the subject with a straightforward approach to rhythm abnormality, asking how the patient with arrhythmia presents, how the problem should be investigated and how the arrhythmia can be managed.

Highlights include:- A succinct description of normal conduction- A simple classification of arrhythmias based on 12-lead ECG patterns- A concise explanation of the mechanisms of arrhythmias with clear well-annotated illustrations- A comprehensive review of presenting signs and symptoms, with key questions to ask the patient- A logical approach to investigation: predict it (history and examination), wait for it (monitoring) or provoke it (electrophysiological testing)- Practical information on management options: pharmacological therapy, direct cardioversion, catheter ablation and cardiac devices- Specific chapters on the different types of arrhythmia