| Summary: |
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. This highly readable handbook is an up-to-date practical resource for primary healthcare professionals, coronary care nurses, medical students and trainee cardiologists - in fact, anyone who wants a better understanding of the common arrhythmias and how best to manage them |