Foundations of Cardiac Arrhythmias

This single-source reference/text is an authoritative, up-to-date, and multidisciplinary presentation of basic, applied, and clinical approaches to the diagnosis, treatment, and management of cardiac arrhythmia and the prevention of sudden cardiac death—providing essential concepts for new approaches to pharmacologic and electrical therapies. Over 50 leading physicians, scientists, and engineers integrate their research knowledge into a solid foundation of fundamentals in innovative new ways to promote an understanding of cardiac arrhythmias on a multilevel basis that spans the full range of topics from genes to therapy prevention. From the regular rhythm of the heart to the irregular, chaotic states that characterize fibrillation and tachyarrhythmias, Foundations of Cardiac Arrhythmias

• explores the ionic and molecular basis of electrogenesis and its control within different types of cardiac cells
• clarifies the molecular and biochemical regulation of cell-to-cell conduction that will help facilitate development of the next generation of antiarrhythmic drugs
• considers genetic determinants that influence the onset of sudden death in rare and acquired heart disease
• explores recent insights into macroscopic, three-dimensional interactions implicated in the genesis of malignant ventricular tachycardias
• surveys population studies that reveal new information about the relevance of higher frequency polymorphisms and variations in molecules involved in cardiac control
• discusses the role of cardiac ablation and the use of pacemakers and defibrillators, including new concepts in device design
• discusses promising new advances with noninvasive markers of arrhythmia risk that are helping to identify patients at risk for sudden death