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Management of Ventricular Arrhythmias: An Historical Perspective

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Management of Cardiac Arrhythmias

Part of the book series: Contemporary Cardiology ((CONCARD))

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Abstract

The treatment of ventricular arrhythmias has undergone vibrant change in the last 40 years, evolving from a largely intellectual exercise to an evidence-based, guideline-supported set of patient care strategies. This progress have been fueled by basic and clinical science and by the initial application of randomized clinical trials to the study of electrophysiology. Along the way, several strongly held beliefs were reconsidered, most notably the use of programmed stimulation or serial Holter montoring to guide pharmacologic therapy for ventricular tachycardia. Although antiarrhythmic drugs are still considered useful in reducing the frequency of recurrent VT episodes, our loss of confidence in guided drug therapy led to the development of device, surgical ablation, and catheter ablation therapies, which form the mainstay of treatment today.

A few hours before his death he told me … he did not feel any bodily ailments, and … without any sign of anything amiss, he passed away from this life.

… through failure of the artery that feeds the heart … which I found to be very parched and shrunk and withered.

– Leonardo DaVinci

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Section of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, The Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA

    David J. Callans MD

  2. Division of Cardiology, The Beth Israel – Deaconess Hospital, Boston, MA, USA

    Mark E. Josephson MD

Authors
  1. David J. Callans MD
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  2. Mark E. Josephson MD
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Main Line Health Heart Center, 100 Lancaster Ave, Wynnewood, 19096, Pennsylvania, USA

    Gan-Xin Yan

  2. Main Line Health Heart Center, 100 Lancaster Ave, Wynnewood, 19096, Pennsylvania, USA

    Peter R. Kowey

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Callans, D.J., Josephson, M.E. (2011). Management of Ventricular Arrhythmias: An Historical Perspective. In: Yan, GX., Kowey, P. (eds) Management of Cardiac Arrhythmias. Contemporary Cardiology. Humana Press, Totowa, NJ. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-60761-161-5_1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-60761-161-5_1

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  • Publisher Name: Humana Press, Totowa, NJ

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-60761-160-8

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-60761-161-5

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