TY - CHAP M1 - Book, Section TI - Chapter 24. Cardiac Arrhythmias, Pacing, Cardioversion, and Defibrillation in the Critical Care Setting A1 - Gillis, Anne M. A2 - Hall, Jesse B. A2 - Schmidt, Gregory A. A2 - Wood, Lawrence D.H. PY - 2005 T2 - Principles of Critical Care, 3e AB - Correct diagnoses and understanding of arrhythmia mechanisms are crucial to successful arrhythmia management.The hemodynamic effects of an arrhythmia are important in developing an appropriate treatment strategy.Predisposing conditions and reversible causes should be recognized and corrected.Knowledge of antiarrhythmic drug therapy, cardiac pacing, electrical cardioversion, and defibrillation are essential to successful arrhythmia management.The proarrhythmic potential of antiarrhythmic drugs must be recognized and preventive measures taken whenever possible.Knowledge of antiarrhythmic drug pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics and the effect of multisystem organ disease on these parameters are important in preventing drug toxicity.The intensivist should be skilled in the implantation of temporary pacing systems, external cardioversion, and defibrillation.The intensivist should recognize when temporary and implantable pacemakers or cardioverter defibrillators are not functioning appropriately.Not all arrhythmias require long-term prophylactic treatment. SN - PB - The McGraw-Hill Companies CY - New York, NY Y2 - 2023/10/01 UR - accesssurgery.mhmedical.com/content.aspx?aid=2284882 ER -