VENTRICULAR ARRHYTHMIAS, ELECTROPHYSIOLOGIC STUDIES, AND DEVICES - 08/09/11

Doi : 10.1016/S0733-8651(05)70064-3

Anwer Dhala, MD ^{^{*
Department of Medicine, University of Wisconsin Medical School–Milwaukee Clinical Campus, St. Luke's and Sinai Samaritan Medical Centers, Milwaukee Wisconsin}}, Jasbir Sra, MD ^{^{*
Department of Medicine, University of Wisconsin Medical School–Milwaukee Clinical Campus, St. Luke's and Sinai Samaritan Medical Centers, Milwaukee Wisconsin}}, Zalmen Blanck, MD ^{^{*
Department of Medicine, University of Wisconsin Medical School–Milwaukee Clinical Campus, St. Luke's and Sinai Samaritan Medical Centers, Milwaukee Wisconsin}}, Sanjay Deshpande, MD ^{^{*
Department of Medicine, University of Wisconsin Medical School–Milwaukee Clinical Campus, St. Luke's and Sinai Samaritan Medical Centers, Milwaukee Wisconsin}}, Mohammad R. Jazayeri, MD ^{^{*
Department of Medicine, University of Wisconsin Medical School–Milwaukee Clinical Campus, St. Luke's and Sinai Samaritan Medical Centers, Milwaukee Wisconsin}}, Masood Akhtar, MD ^{^{*
Department of Medicine, University of Wisconsin Medical School–Milwaukee Clinical Campus, St. Luke's and Sinai Samaritan Medical Centers, Milwaukee Wisconsin}}

Résumé

In the elderly, pathologic changes involving the cardiovascular system frequently reflect prolonged exposure to various disease processes, such as atherosclerotic or hypertensive heart disease. Because of this, cardiac dysfunction and myocardial hypertrophy, the typical substrate for ventricular tachyarrhythmias, is not unusual.^{30 Tresch D.D., Platia E.V., Guarnieri T. , et al. Refractory symptomatic ventricular tachycardia and ventricular fibrillation in elderly patients Am J Med 1987 ; 83 : 399-404 [cross-ref]

Cliquez ici pour aller à la section Références} The prevalence of ambient ventricular arrhythmias is known to increase with aging.^{10 Fleg J.L., Kennedy H.L. Cardiac arrhythmias in a healthy elderly population: Detection by 24-hour ambulatory electrocardiography Chest 1982 ; 81 : 302-307 [cross-ref]

Cliquez ici pour aller à la section Références} Sustained ventricular tachycardia and ventricular fibrillation (VT/VF) is also not infrequent, although its incidence in the elderly is rarely reported. This article discusses treatment of sustained VT/VF followed by management of nonsustained VT and primary prevention of sudden death.