Conduction Disorders
Conduction disorders are the result of disturbances in the heart's pacemaking tissue. An abnormal
rhythm, or arrhythmia, may result in a slow heart rate (bradycardia) or rapid heart rate (tachycardia). Arrhythmias may occur in the atrial or ventricular portions of the heart.
Ventricular
fibrillation and ventricular tachycardia are examples of very lethal arrhythmias, which require prompt treatment with electrical stimulation or
antiarrhythmic drugs. Atrial fibrillation is a common arrhythmia; it can be managed with medical therapy in most cases.
Arrhythmias may require placement of a permanent pacemaker. Newer devices also detect lethal arrhythmias and deliver an automatic electrical shock to convert the rhythm back to normal. The management of most arrhythmias involves long-term use of antiarrhythmic medication. One experimental treatment involves surgical interruption of abnormal conduction pathways.