Tachycardia
Tachycardia mechanisms Automaticity The rate at which the sinus node discharges usually is faster than other latent or subsidiary automatic cardiac pacemakers. Subsidiary pacemakers can become dominant in the settings…
Evaluation of the Patient with Suspected Arrhythmias
Outpatient approach to arrhythmia monitoring Proper and effective monitoring is required to assess and manage arrhythmias and to document and diagnose the etiology of the problem. Many individuals have symptoms…
Sinus Node: Normal and Abnormal Rhythms
Normal sinus node Description Normal sinus rhythm (NSR) is an atrial rhythm caused by electrical activation that originates from the sinus node, a structure located in the area of the…
Pericardial Diseases
Introduction to Pericardial Diseases Itzhak Kronzon, MD Hippocrates (c. 460-370 BC) described the normal pericardium as follows: “The pericardium is a smooth mantle surrounding the heart and containing a small amount…
Aortic Stenosis
Aortic Stenosis Morphology Steven A. Goldstein, MD Congenital aortic stenosis Bicuspid Aortic Valve Congenital aortic valve malformation reflects a phenotypic continuum of unicuspid valve (severe form), bicuspid valve (moderate form), tricuspid…
Pericardial Diseases
Introduction to Pericardial Diseases Itzhak Kronzon, MD Hippocrates (c. 460-370 BC) described the normal pericardium as follows: “The pericardium is a smooth mantle surrounding the heart and containing a small amount…
Pulmonic Regurgitation
Introduction and Etiology of Pulmonic Regurgitation Melissa A. Daubert, MD Smadar Kort, MD Epidemiology and etiology A trivial amount of pulmonic regurgitation (PR) is a common finding in the adult population. Minor…
Systemic Diseases
Hypertension Brian D. Hoit, MD Systemic arterial hypertension is a major cause of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality and is the number one attributable risk factor for death throughout the world. The…
Physics and Instrumentation
General Principles of Echocardiography Frederick W. Kremkau, PhD Echocardiography is sonography of the heart. Sonography comes from the Latin sonus (sound) and the Greek graphein (to write). Diagnostic sonography is medical…
Interventional Echocardiography
Introduction Ernesto E. Salcedo, MD John D. Carroll, MD The field of structural heart disease (SHD) has evolved as a group of cardiovascular diseases that are amenable to percutaneous noncoronary interventions. The…
