Ventricular Arrhythmias, Part II: Special Concerns In Evaluation

Abstract

In the initial installment of this series, the prevalence, significance, and indications for treatment of ventricular arrhythmias were discussed. In this section, we address special concerns in the evaluation of patients with ventricular arrhythmias including the importance of extracardiac and exacerbating factors, the likely role of silent myocardial ischemia, benefits and drawbacks of monitoring methods, proarrhythmic effect, and torsades de pointes. Treatment considerations and discussion of pitfalls in management will follow in the final two installments of this series.