Sinus Node Dysfunction
Abstract Sinus node dysfunction (SND) refers to a wide range of abnormalities involving sinus node impulse generation and propagation, leading to the inability of the sinus node to generate heart…
Conventional Intracardiac Mapping Techniques
Abstract Cardiac mapping refers to the process of identifying the temporal and spatial distributions of myocardial electrical potentials during a particular heart rhythm. Mapping aims at elucidation of the mechanism…
Electrophysiological Testing: Tools and Techniques
Abstract Invasive electrophysiological (EP) testing involves recording a portion of cardiac electrical activity and programmed cardiac electrical stimulation via multipolar catheter electrodes positioned percutaneously strategically at various locations within the…
Electrophysiological Mechanisms of Cardiac Arrhythmias
Abstract Automaticity is the property of cardiac cells to initiate an impulse spontaneously, without need for prior stimulation. Triggered activity is impulse initiation in cardiac fibers caused by depolarizing oscillations…
Cardiac Ion Channels
Abstract Ion channels are pore-forming membrane proteins that regulate the flow of ions passively down their electrochemical gradient across the membrane. Ion channels are present on all membranes of cells…
Molecular Mechanisms of Cardiac Electrical Activity
Abstract Cardiomyocytes maintain a difference in the concentration of ions across their membranes, resulting in a difference in the electrical charge (i.e., voltage difference) across the cell membrane, called the…
CT and MRI
Introduction There are multiple aspects of imaging in the context of coronary artery disease. On the one hand, imaging is used to identify the presence of coronary artery stenoses, through…
Global Risk Assessment
Introduction This chapter is focused on tools for risk assessment in patients with stable coronary heart disease. In general, patients with stable ischemic heart disease have a good prognosis. However,…
Primary Prevention of Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease
The atherosclerotic process begins in childhood and manifests clinically in adulthood as an acute atherothrombotic event (acute coronary syndrome or stroke) or as symptomatic obstructive disease (angina or claudication) (…
Angina in Patients with Evidence of Myocardial Ischemia and No Obstructive Coronary Artery Disease
Introduction Treatment of angina and evidence of myocardial ischemia on stress testing with no obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD) by angiography is a challenge. Previously referred to as cardiac syndrome…
