What is ventricular arrhythmia?
Ventricular arrhythmias are abnormal heart rhythms that originate in the bottom chambers of the heart called the ventricles. Ventricular arrhythmia may cause: Angina. Heart attack.
What happens in ventricular arrhythmia?
Ventricular arrhythmias are abnormal heartbeats that originate in your lower heart chambers, called ventricles. These types of arrhythmias cause your heart to beat too fast, which prevents oxygen-rich blood from circulating to the brain and body and may result in cardiac arrest.
What causes a ventricular arrhythmia?
Ventricular arrhythmias occur when the normal pattern of electrical signals is disrupted, causing the heart to beat too fast. These too-rapid heart rates can prevent the heart from effectively pumping blood to the body.
What is the most common ventricular arrhythmia?
Heart attack is the most common cause of ventricular arrhythmia, but it can also occur during heart surgery or as a result of cardiomyopathy or a genetic heart rhythm disorder, such as long QT syndrome or Brugada syndrome. Ventricular fibrillation can also be caused by recreational drug use, including cocaine.
What is atrial and ventricular arrhythmias?
Atrial fibrillation occurs in the heart’s upper two chambers, also known as the atria. Ventricular fibrillation occurs in the heart’s lower two chambers, known as the ventricles. If an irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia) occurs in the atria, the word “atrial” will precede the type of arrhythmia.
What is AF pathophysiology?
The pathogenesis of AF is now thought to involve an interaction between initiating triggers, often in the form of rapidly firing ectopic foci located inside one or more pulmonary veins, and an abnormal atrial tissue substrate capable of maintaining the arrhythmia.
What is the cardiac pathophysiology of AFib?
In atrial fibrillation, the signals in the upper chambers of the heart are chaotic. As a result, the upper chambers shake (quiver). The AV node is then bombarded with signals trying to get through to the lower heart chambers (ventricles). This causes a fast and irregular heart rhythm.
What does ventricular mean?
Ventricular: Pertaining to the ventricles, the lower chambers of the heart, as in ventricular fibrillation and ventricular septal defect.
How is VT treated?
Sustained ventricular tachycardia often requires urgent medical treatment, as this condition may sometimes lead to sudden cardiac death. Treatment involves restoring a normal heart rate by delivering a jolt of electricity to the heart. This may be done using a defibrillator or with a treatment called cardioversion.
