Clinical Management of Ventricular Arrhythmias

Course Provider
Learning Objectives
1.Define basic concepts of normal cardiac conduction, including cellular events, and normal electrocardiogram (ECG) waveform.
2.Identify premature ventricular complexes (PVCs), including electrophysiological characteristics, patterns of occurrence, related symptoms and common precipitating causes.
3.Describe monomorphic ventricular tachycardia (VT), including electrophysiological characteristics, impact on physiological functioning, and underlying pathophysiology.
4.Identify polymorphic VT, including electrophysiological characteristics, impact on physiological functioning, and underlying pathophysiology.
5.Describe ventricular fibrillation, including electrophysiological characteristics, impact on physiological functioning, and underlying pathophysiology
6.List key points in the American Heart Association's Chain of Survival, including the use of automated external defibrillators (AED).
7.Summarize key points in the emergency management of life-threatening ventricular arrhythmias for patients, as recommended by ACLS guidelines.
8.Outline the assessment, diagnosis, and risk stratification process for patients who have, or are deemed to be at risk for, ventricular arrhythmias.
9.Describe the management of PVCs and nonsustained VT in persons with and without heart disease.
10.State major indications for implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs) and outline the basic components, functions, therapy options, and implantation procedure for current generation ICDs.