title: Cardiac arrhythmia therapy.
abstract: Cardiac dysfunction is often manifested as arrhythmia, with disruption of the normal periodicity and regularity of electromechanical activity. The therapy for arrhythmia begins with proper diagnosis, since many pharmacological interventions are themselves arrhythmogenic. Intervention for acute arrhythmia involves correction of underlying systemic conditions by ensuring adequate oxygenation, ventilation, acid-base homeostasis, electrolyte balance, and fluid status. Classification of antiarrhythmic agents assists in a structured treatment approach that utilizes different agents based on the etiology of the arrhythmia and the drug's mechanism of action. A deliberate treatment strategy guided by the morphological criteria of the arrhythmia modified by the rate and duration of complexes, noting symptoms and hemodynamic stability, is desirable.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology/Critical Care and Emergency Medicine, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, PA, USA.
authors.forename: R B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Vukmir
mesh_terms: D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents / Q000145:classification / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001145:Arrhythmias, Cardiac / Q000188:drug therapy*; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000188:drug therapy; D001919:Bradycardia / Q000188:drug therapy; D006327:Heart Block / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D013617:Tachycardia, Supraventricular / Q000188:drug therapy; D017180:Tachycardia, Ventricular / Q000188:drug therapy; D014927:Wolff-Parkinson-White Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy
chemical_list: D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents