CARDIAC-ARRHYTHMIA THERAPY

Cardiac dysfunction is often manifested as arrhythmia, with disruption of the normal periodicity and regularity of electromechanical activit y. The therapy for arrhythmia begins with proper diagnosis, since many pharmacological interventions are themselves arrhythmogenic. Interven tion for acute arrhythmia involves correction of underlying systemic c onditions by ensuring adequate oxygenation, ventilation, acid-base hom eostasis, electrolyte balance, and fluid status. Classification of ant iarrhythmic agents assists in a structured treatment approach that uti lizes different agents based on the etiology of the arrhythmia and the drug's mechanism of action. A deliberate treatment strategy guided by the morphological criteria of the arrhythmia modified by the rate and duration of complexes, noting symptoms and hemodynamic stability, is desirable. (C) 1995 by W.B. Saunders