Cardiac Arrhythmias: A Decade of Progress

Abstract

In May 1980, current knowledge of cardiac arrhythmias and antiarrhythmic therapy was presented in a medical symposium held at Stanford University under the direction of Dr Donald C. Harrison and sponsored by the Astra Pharmaceutical Co. Forty-eight different presentations from that symposium, reflecting important advances in the understanding of cardiac arrhythmias and antiarrhythmic therapy since 1970, have been compiled by Harrison in<i>Cardiac Arrhythmias: A Decade of Progress</i>. The text contains 16 sections reviewing the genesis of cardiac arrhythmias, the theoretical basis of antiarrhythmic drug action, the use of new antiarrhythmic drugs, drug interactions, electrophysiological studies, electrical therapy, and surgery for cardiac arrhythmias. The efficacy of antiarrhythmic drugs in acute myocardial infarction and the surgical approaches to the prevention and treatment of cardiac arrhythmias are especially well discussed. Seven chapters are devoted to tocainide therapy for cardiac arrhythmias, reflecting the special interest of Astra Pharmaceutical Co. Controversies regarding electrophysiological mapping