Cardiac Arrhythmias

DefinitionTop

1. Supraventricular arrhythmias:

1) Supraventricular premature beats (SPBs) originate in the atrium but outside the sinus node. They are either premature or escape beats and may be single or multiple. They may occur randomly or in an organized pattern after every normal sinus beat (bigeminy) or after every 2 normal sinus beats (trigeminy).

2) Supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) is any tachycardia >100 beats/min that originates above the bundle of His, including:

a) Atrioventricular nodal reentrant tachycardia (AVNRT).

b) Atrioventricular reentrant tachycardia (AVRT).

c) Atrial tachycardia (AT).

3) Atrial flutter (AFL).

4) Atrial fibrillation (AF).

2. Ventricular arrhythmias originate from the ventricles:

1) Ventricular premature beats (VPBs) may be premature or escape beats. They may also be monomorphic (all VPBs have the same morphology) or polymorphic (several VPB morphologies) and single or complex. They may occur after every normal sinus beat (bigeminy) or after every 2 normal sinus beats (trigeminy).

2) Ventricular tachycardia (VT): Nonsustained VT will last <30 seconds. Sustained VT is defined as lasting >30 seconds or shorter if it causes hemodynamic compromise.

3) Ventricular fibrillation (VF): Very rapid and uncoordinated contractions of the ventricles of the heart, unable to generate an effective pulse beat.

Clinical Features and Natural HistoryTop

1. Supraventricular arrhythmias: Signs and symptoms depend on the ventricular rate, underlying heart disease, arrhythmia duration, and patient’s individual sensitivity to arrhythmia. While SVTs are more commonly seen in normal hearts and younger patients, AF and AFL usually occur in hypertensive or structural heart disease and in older individuals. Symptoms include palpitations, dizziness, chest discomfort, dyspnea, and near-fainting or syncope. SVT is usually paroxysmal (characterized by a sudden onset and resolution) and can recur with varying frequency. AFL and AF can progress from the paroxysmal form into a more persistent and permanent form (the patient is mainly in AF instead of sinus rhythm). AF and AFL also carry a risk of embolic stroke. Rarely, persistent supraventricular arrhythmia with rapid ventricular rates may cause tachycardia-induced cardiomyopathy and heart failure symptoms.

2. Ventricular arrhythmias: Ventricular arrhythmias in the form of VPBs or nonsustained VT can be asymptomatic. However, patients may have symptoms like palpitations, dizziness, chest discomfort, dyspnea, and near-fainting or syncope. There is an inconsistent correlation between the amount of ectopic beats (percentage of VPBs or nonsustained VT of all beats) and symptoms. In structurally normal hearts even a sustained episode of VT can cause no symptoms; however, the majority of sustained VT episodes are symptomatic and can cause syncope or cardiac arrest. VF is a terminal arrhythmia unless the patient is resuscitated.

DiagnosisTop

The key for the diagnosis of an arrhythmia is its electrocardiographic (ECG) appearance. Nevertheless, a proper physical examination can be essential for diagnosis when assessing for pulse rate, rhythm, and signs of structural heart disease (eg, valvular disease, heart failure). At times, a few other diagnostic tests can be useful.

The ECG appearance of arrhythmia can lead to a correct diagnosis (Figure 1). When analyzing the ECG, the following should be taken into consideration:

1) Assess the rate (tachycardia vs bradycardia).

2) Assess the QRS-complex width (wide vs narrow).

3) Assess regularity. If the rhythm is irregular, is there a pattern?

4) Look for P waves:

a) Assess the relation of P waves to QRS complexes.

b) If the relation is 1:1, assess the timing of P waves in relation to the previous QRS complex (short RP versus long RP; Figure 2).

Diagnostic Tests

1. ECG:

1) 12-lead resting ECG.

2) Continuous ECG monitoring is useful in patients with frequent episodes of arrhythmia. For outpatients, Holter monitors can accumulate continuous ECG information from 24 hours and up to a week. The data are then downloaded and arrhythmias are identified offline. This can also aid in assessing the amount of ectopic beats (SPBs or VPBs in 24 hours), their type (single or complex, nonsustained or sustained VT), and the circadian pattern, and is useful in assessing for slow heart rates (bradycardia) and pauses. Holter monitors are also helpful in the evaluation of QT-segment prolongation, Brugada syndrome ECG patterns, and numerous investigational prognostic markers in structural heart disease (eg, heart rate variability). Inpatients can be monitored by continuous telemetry ECG monitoring; some of these systems offer storing and processing of data on top of real-time alerting for arrhythmias.

3) Long-term ECG recorders come in the form of loop or event recorders. These devices will keep on recording and deleting a few minutes of ECG unless an arrhythmia is detected. Usually when using a remote device, the patient can also instruct it to store an episode of ECG when symptomatic, even after regaining consciousness from a fainting spell. The last few minutes of the ECG are thus stored and can also be transmitted. These devices can be external (using ECG electrodes on the chest skin similar to a Holter device) or internal (implantable loop recorder [ILR]) and are used for detecting arrhythmias in patients with infrequent symptoms. Implantable recorders can last for a few years.

4) ECG stress testing is used in the diagnosis of arrhythmias in patients with symptoms that are either related to or exacerbated on exertion.

2. Electrophysiologic study (EPS) is an invasive study, usually combined with a therapeutic intervention, used for making a detailed diagnosis of arrhythmia. Electrodes (catheters) are introduced into the heart via the venous (usually) or arterial approach.

3. Echocardiography is often used to assess for structural heart disease (eg, cardiac function, hypertrophy, valvular disease), which can help in the identification of causes or complications of an arrhythmia (eg, tachycardia-induced cardiomyopathy).

Differential Diagnosis

SVT: Figure 2. Narrow-QRS tachycardia: Figure 3. Wide-QRS tachycardia: Figure 4.

TreatmentTop

It is imperative to make the right diagnosis and to treat an identifiable cause or underlying condition. Treatment of specific arrhythmias may include the following:

1) Interventions aimed at increasing vagal tone (eg, carotid sinus massage, Valsalva maneuver). This at times can also aid in diagnosis.

2) Antiarrhythmic drugs: Different antiarrhythmic drugs can be used for different indications (Table 1, Table 2).

3) Electrical cardioversion and electrical defibrillation.

4) Insertion of an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD), a device that can detect tachyarrhythmia and terminate it in order to prevent sudden cardiac death (see Ventricular Arrhythmia Following Myocardial Infarction).

5) Catheter or surgical ablation: Catheter ablation involves destruction of the critical anatomical region of the cardiac tissue that is responsible for the generation or propagation of an arrhythmia. The procedure is performed percutaneously by introducing catheters into the heart via veins or arteries. Surgical ablation is done using thoracic surgery. Ablation can be applied for the treatment of AF, AFL, SVT, and VT.

Tables and FiguresTop

Figure 3.4-1. Simplified categorization of arrhythmias.

Figure 3.4-2. Differential diagnosis of supraventricular tachycardia based on the relationship of P waves and QRS complexes.

Figure 3.4-3. Differential diagnosis of narrow-QRS tachycardia. Adapted from guidelines by the American College of Cardiology and American Heart Association.

Figure 3.4-4. Differential diagnosis of wide-QRS tachycardia. Adapted from guidelines by the American College of Cardiology and American Heart Association.