Jurnal Ilmiah

As a safe treatment, performed under local anaesthesia, which is usually effective as a single procedure, catheter ablation is the first choice treatment for most cardiac arrhythmias. Patients who would otherwise have to be committed to long term drug treatment and follow up should be offered a cure. The number of hospital cardiac departments with the expertise and facilities for catheter ablation is expanding, and this service is now widely available in all parts of the developed world. There is a great need to demystify cardiac arrhythmias and help practitioners understand what treatment is available for the best management of our patients: a cure that is safe, efficacious, and cost effective.

The cardiovascular system consists of the heart and its blood vessels. A wide array of problems can arise within the cardiovascular system, a few of which include endocarditis, rheumatic heart disease, and conduction system abnormalities. Cardiovascular disease, also known as heart disease, refers to the following 4 entities: coronary artery disease (CAD) which is also referred to as coronary heart disease (CHD), cerebrovascular disease, peripheral artery disease (PAD), and aortic atherosclerosis. CAD results from decreased myocardial perfusion that causes angina due to ischemia and can result in myocardial infarction (MI), and/or heart failure. It accounts for one-third to one-half of all cases of cardiovascular disease. Cerebrovascular disease is the entity associated with strokes, also termed cerebrovascular accidents, and transient ischemic attacks (TIAs). Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is arterial disease predominantly involving the limbs that may result in claudication. Aortic atherosclerosis is the entity associated with thoracic and abdominal aneurysms. This activity reviews the evaluation and treatment of cardiovascular disease and the role of the medical team in evaluating and treating these conditions.

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a collective term designating all types of affliction affecting the blood circulatory system, including the heart and vasculature, which, respectively, displaces and conveys the blood.

A cardiac arrhythmia simply defined is a variation from the normal heart rate and/or rhythm that is not physiologically justified. Recent years have witnessed important advances in our understanding of the electrophysiologic mechanisms underlying the development of a variety of cardiac arrhythmias. The mechanisms responsible for cardiac arrhythmias are generally divided into 2 major categories: (1) enhanced or abnormal impulse formation (ie, focal activity) and (2) conduction disturbances (ie, reentry)

Three goals should be kept in mind when approaching a patient with suspected cardiac arrhythmia. These include understanding symptoms typically associated with cardiac arrhythmias, deciding whether the patient has potential risks of dying from an arrhythmia, and choosing the correct means of documenting the suspected rhythm disorder. Establishing a probable cause of an arrhythmia refers to the likelihood that an arrhythmia exists and is based on certain symptoms obtained in the history. An in-depth risk assessment is undertaken if there is a reasonable concern that death may be an outcome. This is largely based on a family history of sudden death, evidence of structural heart disease, or, in the case of the primary arrhythmia syndromes, unique ECG abnormalities. Making the diagnosis means documenting the arrhythmia and, in particular, linking it to the patient's symptoms. The best way to do this is to provide some form of ambulatory monitoring that brings the two together. This article outlines the various symptoms of cardiac arrhythmias, and their pathophysiologic basis, provides guidance in making a risk assessment and discusses the various means of reaching the correct diagnosis. It highlights the role of the interprofessional team in caring for patients experiencing arrhythmias.