title: [Life-threatening brady- and tachyarrhythmias].
abstract: Bradycardic (heart rate<50/min) and tachycardic heart rhythm disturbances (100/min) require rapid therapeutic strategies. Supraventricular tachycardias (SVT) are sinus tachycardia, atrial tachycardia, AV-nodal reentrant tachycardia and tachycardia due to accessory pathways. Mostly SVT are characterized by small QRS complexes (QRS width<0.12 ms). It is essential to evaluate the arrhythmia history, to perform a good physical examination and to exactly analyze the 12-lead electrocardiogram. An exact diagnosis is then possible in >90% of SVT patients. Ventricular tachycardias have a broad QRS complex (>or=0.12 s), ventricular flutter and ventricular fibrillation are associated with chaotic electrophysiologic findings. For acute therapy, we will present the new concept of the "5A" that includes adenosine, adrenaline, ajmaline, amiodarone and atropine. Additional "B, C and D strategies" include betablocking agents, cardioversion as well as defibrillation. The "5A" concept allows a safe and effective antiarrhythmic treatment of all bradycardic and tachycardic arrhythmias as well as asystolia.
authors.affiliation: Medizinische Klinik II, Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Hölkeskampring 40, 44625, Herne, Germany. Hans-Joachim.Trappe@ruhr-uni-bochum.de
authors.forename: H-J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Trappe
mesh_terms: D000241:Adenosine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000404:Ajmaline / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000638:Amiodarone / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001285:Atropine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001919:Bradycardia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy*; D017147:Defibrillators, Implantable; D004554:Electric Countershock; D004562:Electrocardiography; D004630:Emergencies; D004837:Epinephrine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006339:Heart Rate; D006801:Humans; D010138:Pacemaker, Artificial; D012815:Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted; D013610:Tachycardia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy*
chemical_list: D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists; D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents; D000404:Ajmaline; D001285:Atropine; D000241:Adenosine; D000638:Amiodarone; D004837:Epinephrine