Current concepts in diagnosis and treatment of tachyarrhythmias

A diagnostic and therapeutic approach of supraventricular and ventricular tachyarrhythmia is always challenging. Several criteria serve to discriminate correctly between these two types of tachycardia. Cardiac arrhythmias are terminated reliably by intravenous (IV) application of antiarrhythmic drugs: adenosine for supraventricular arrhythmia, amiodarone or ajmaline for ventricular tachycardia. Furthermore, AV-nodal tachycardia, atrioventricular reciprocating tachycardia, and typical atrial flutter is treated curatively by radiofrequency ablation during an electrophysiological study. This interventional therapy is well established in patients suffering from ventricular premature contractions or tachycardia originating in the right or left ventricular outflow tract. Aside treatment with an implantable defibrillator, patients with coronary artery disease highly benefit from adjusted pharmaceutical treatment.