Arrhythmias

Front 1

Atrial fibrillation

Back 1

In atrial fibrillation, the electrical activity of the heart is uncoordinated, with electricity traveling about the upper chambers in a chaotic fashion, causing the upper chambers to quiver (like a "bag of worms") and contract inefficiently or not at all. Atrial fibrillation is common particularly in the elderly and those with heart disease. It is also common in patients with heart valve disease who may require surgery to repair or replace the mitral valve. There are a variety of treatment options for atrial fibrillation, including drugs, an ablation -- a non-surgical technique which eliminates the abnormal heart tissue with a catheter, or surgery in some cases.

Front 2

Atrial flutter

Back 2

Atrial flutter causes a rapid but coordinated electrical stimulation of the upper chamber of the heart, often leading to a rapid pulse. The atria are stimulated so quickly that they can not contract or squeeze. This arrhythmia is due to a loop of electricity in the upper chambers of the heart. It is often curable with ablation.

Front 3

Supraventricular tachycardias (PSVT)

Back 3

This is a fast heart rhythms from the top part of the heart. In this condition, repeated periods of very fast heartbeats begin and end suddenly. These arrhythmias are usually due to extra connections between the upper and lower chambers of the heart. They are ofted difficult to control with medication and are often curable with an ablation.

Front 4

Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome

Back 4

This is a special type of PSVT. This syndrome involves episodes of a rapid heart rate (tachycardia) caused by abnormal electrical connection in the heart. In people with Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome, there is an extra (accessory) connection between the top and bottom chambers of the heart. Wolff-Parkinson-White occurs in approximately 4 out of 100,000 people, and is one of the most common causes of fast heart rate disorders (tachyarrhymthmias) in infants and children.

Front 5

Premature supraventricular contraction or premature atrial contraction (PAC)

Back 5

Premature beats or extra beats frequently cause irregular heart rhythms. Those that start in the upper chambers are called premature atrial contractions (PACs). These are quite common and are benign. Usually no cause can be found and no special treatment is needed.

Front 6

Sick sinus syndrome:

Back 6

The sinus node (heart’s pacemaker) does not fire its signals properly, so that the heart rate slows down. Sometimes the rate changes back and forth between a slow (bradycardia) and fast (tachycardia) rate. This most often occurs in the elderly as a result of degenerative changes to the conduction pathways of the heart.

Front 7

Sinus arrhythmia

Back 7

Cyclic changes in the heart rate during breathing. Common in children and often found in normal, healthy adults. A pacemaker may be required for treatment.

Front 8

Sinus tachycardia

Back 8

The sinus node sends out electrical signals faster than usual, speeding up the heart rate. This is a normal response to exercise.

Front 9

Multifocal atrial tachycardia

Back 9

In multifocal atrial tachycardia (M.A.T.), multiple locations within the atria "fire" and initiate an electrical impulse. Most of these impulses are conducted to the ventricles, leading to a rapid heart rate, anywhere from 100 to 250 beats per minute. M.A.T. is most common in people 50 years old and over and it is often seen in patients with lung disease.

Front 10

Premature ventricular contraction (PVC)

Back 10

An electrical signal from the ventricles causes an early heartbeat that generally goes unnoticed. The heart then seems to pause until the next beat of the ventricle occurs in a regular fashion. These are commonly detected in normal, healthy adults.

Front 11

Ventricular Fibrillation

Back 11

is where electrical signals in the ventricles fire in a very fast and uncontrolled manner. This causes the lower chambers to quiver, and not pump blood. If the person does not receive immediate medical attention and a normal rhythm is not restored quickly, the patient will suffer brain and heart damage and die. Patients who survive this should have a defibrillator (ICD) implanted.

Front 12

Ventricular Tachycarida

Back 12

is a rapid. regular heartbeat arising in the ventricles, the bottom chamber of the heart. When it occurs, it's usually fatal. About 400,000 people a year die from it. The treatment of choice for this invariably includes an implantable defibrillator and or medication and or interventions like ablation to try to minimize or limit the number of shocks (see video).