[Cardiac arrhythmias: Diagnosis and management]

Abstract

Cardiac arrhythmias, with, on top of the list, atrial fibrillation, are frequent conditions and any physician might have to get involved at any stage of patient care (from diagnosis to treatment), without always having the opportunity to immediately refer to the cardiologist. The aim of this review is to present a summary of pathophysiology, clinical and electrocardiographic presentations, as well as diagnostic and therapeutic strategies for the main cardiac arrhythmias. Supra-ventricular tachycardias (atrial fibrillation and flutter, atrioventricular reciprocating tachycardias) and ventricular tachycardias will be consecutively presented and discussed.

Keywords: Atrial fibrillation; Atrial flutter; Atrioventricular reciprocating tachycardia; Fibrillation atriale; Flutter atrial; Tachycardie jonctionnelle; Tachycardie ventriculaire; Ventricular tachycardia.