ATRIAL AND VENTRICULAR ARRHYTHMIAS: PATHOPHYSIOLOGICAL MECHANISMS AND CLINICAL CONSEQUENCES

Abstract

The cardiac arrhythmia is a wide variety of conditions affecting the normal rhythm, rate, or conduction of the heart as a result of disruption to its highly controlled electrical system. The rhythmical activity of the SA node and AV node, when connected properly to the His-Purkinje system network is essential for a healthy functioning heart, and disturbances at any level can provoke pathological rhythms. Arrhythmias are further divided into supraventricular and ventricular arrhythmias with practical exposure to some common entities including atrial fibrillation, atrial flutter special consideration on the ventricular tachycardia, ventricular fibrillation, premature beats, Brady arrhythmia and above all stressing underlining causes and clinical implications of these conditions. The electrophysiological substrate for arrhythmogenesis re-entry phenomenon, abnormal automaticity and triggered activity. The role of arrhythmias as well as structural heart disease, metabolic dysfunction, myocardial infarction, emotional and lifestyle factors and systemic illnesses especially in COVID-19 is discussed to demonstrate the way in which cardiac rhythm disturbances frequently represent complex underlying pathophysiological processes. Introduction Recent developments in diagnostic methods such as electrocardiography, ambulatory monitoring, echocardiography, invasive electrophysiological studies and wearable devices have greatly influenced the process of early detection and risk stratification. Consideration is also given to the possible sequences of untreated arrhythmias and therapy-induced side-effects.