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Cardiology in Family Practice pp 51–80Cite as

Arrhythmias

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Part of the book series: Current Clinical Practice ((CCP,volume 1))

Abstract

The physiologic impact of an arrhythmia depends on ventricular response rate, duration of arrhythmia, and underlying cardiac function. Bradyarrhythmias may decrease cardiac output due to heart rate alone in patients with a relatively fixed stroke volume. Loss of atrial contraction may cause a dramatic increase in pulmonary artery pressures in patients with hypertension and diastolic dysfunction. Similarly, tachyarrhythmias can decrease diastolic filling time and reduce cardiac output, resulting in hypotension and possible myocardial ischemia. The impact of a given arrhythmia depends on the patient’s cardiac physiology and function. Treatment is determined by the hemodynamic insult. In this chapter, a systematic approach to diagnosis and evaluation of predisposing factors will be presented, followed by consideration of specific arrhythmias.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Cooper University Hospital, Camden, NJ, USA

    Steven Hollenberg

  2. Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, University of Medicine and Dentistry of Section of Cardiology Cooper University Hospital, Camden, NJ, USA

    Stephen Heitner

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  1. Steven Hollenberg
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  2. Stephen Heitner
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Correspondence to Steven Hollenberg .

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Hollenberg, S., Heitner, S. (2012). Arrhythmias. In: Cardiology in Family Practice. Current Clinical Practice, vol 1. Humana Press. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-61779-385-1_3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-61779-385-1_3

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  • Publisher Name: Humana Press

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-61779-384-4

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-61779-385-1

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