Investigation of bradycardias
Sinus bradycardia Sinus rates less than 60 beats per minute (bpm) are defined as bradycardia in adults. , Lower rates are common in well-trained athletes and occasionally in the young….
Vascular access and catheter placement
Patient preparation Patients should be studied in the postabsorptive state and after beta blockers or other antiarrhythmic agents have been discontinued for at least 5 days. Amiodarone should be withdrawn…
Cardiac anatomy for the electrophysiologist
Some of the descriptive terms conventionally used for cardiac structures are inaccurate. Conventionally the heart and its associated structures have been described in accordance with their position when the heart…
Electrophysiology hardware
Electrode catheters Basic mapping catheters Catheters used for electrophysiology studies (EPSs) and ablation are composed of multiple insulated wires encased in woven Dacron or polyurethane. Electrodes used in electrophysiology (EP)…
Electrophysiologic mechanisms of arrhythmogenesis
Normal excitation of the heart Cardiac electrical activity starts by the spontaneous excitation of “pacemaker” cells in the sinoatrial node in the right atrium. Pacemaker automaticity is due to spontaneous…
Classification of arrhythmias
Bradyarrhythmias are due to sinus nodal disease ( Box 1.1 ) or atrioventricular conduction block ( Box 1.2 ). Box 1.1 Sinus Node Dysfunction (with accompanying symptoms) Sinus bradycardia Sinoatrial…
