Author/Editor		Rakovec, Peter
Title		Arrhythmias and heart failure
Type		članek
Source		In: Štiblar-Martinčič D, Petrovič D, editors. Cardiovascular diseases. Proceedings of the 32nd memorial meeting devoted to professor Janez Plečnik, International symposium in memory of professor Rene Favaloro; 2001 Dec 6-8; Ljubljana. Ljubljana: Medical faculty,
Publication year		2001
Volume		str. 45-7
Language		eng
Abstract		Heart failure is often accompanied by arrhythmias. On the other side, arrhythmias may precipitate or worsen heart failure. Arrhythmias adversely affect haemodynamics by abnormal heart rate, atrioventricular dissociation, asynchrony of ventricular contraction, and beat-to beat cycle length variation. Pharmacotherapy of decompensated patients with arrhythmias is difficult, because the majority of antiarrhythmic drugs exhibits negative inotropic effect. Nonpharmacologic treatment is, therefore, preferred. Biventricular pacing in combination with defibrillation therapy is a promising therapeutic modality for treatment of patients with severe heart failure and life-threatening arrhythmias.
Descriptors		ARRHYTHMIA HEART FAILURE, CONGESTIVE