Antiarrhythmic Drugs: A Practical Guide - Blackwell- Reviewed by Joseph V. Russo

In the past few decades great advances in the treatment of arrhythmias have been made in the electrophysiology lab. In spite of these therapeutic innovations, atrial and ventricular conduction defects persist in relatively high prevalence in an aging population. Clinical experience has shown that medical therapy can not be completely replaced by procedures for the majority of patients suffering from arrhythmias. This timely publication reviews the pharmacology of antiarrythmic pharmaceuticals while stressing the complexities that exist in drug selection and patient management.

The author identifies "non-expert" clinicians as his target audience and the writing style and organization of information is highly appropriate for this group. There is a heavy emphasis on simplification and general models of arrhythmia development in addition to outstanding coverage of drugs in each antiarrhythmic class. Undergraduate medical students and residents in cardiology training programs will especially find this book to be an effective presentation of what can be a confusing and quite dangerous (due to the myriad potential side effects) area of patient prescription. As a side benefit, the book at less than 200 pages can easily be read without a large time commitment.

If you prescribe for patients with arrhythmias, you will want to keep this valuable paperback close at hand. The Second Edition of this valuable reference responds to changes in the available mediations as well as in the way they are currently used.

The book reviews everything you need to understand and prescribe today's antiarrhythmic drugs:

mechanisms of cardiac arrhythmias and how antiarrhythmic drugs alter those arrhythmias, including common adverse effects
which factors to consider in using these drugs for treatment of supraventricular tachyarrhythmias, ventricular arrhythmias, and arrhythmias in pregnancy
a detailed review of atrial fibrillation to help you make decisions for patient management in this complicated area

Dr. Fogoros considers all the most recent drugs, plus promising drugs under investigation, to give you a full picture of therapeutic options. With Antiarrhythmic Drugs: A Practical Guide, Second Edition, you will have dependable information on how each drug works and when each one is indicated so you can give your patients the best possible treatment.

Preface

Acknowledgements

Part 1 Basic Principles
Chapter 1 Mechanisms of Cardiac Tachyarrhythmias
Chapter 2 Introduction to Antiarrhythmic Drugs

Part 2 Clinical Features of Antiarrhythmic Drugs
Chapter 3 Class I Antiarrhythmic Drugs
Chapter 4 Class II Antiarrhythmic Drugs; Beta-Blocking Agents
Chapter 5 Class III Antiarrhythmic Drugs
Chapter 6 Class IV Drugs: Calcium-Blocking Agents
Chapter 7 Unclassified Antiarrhythmic Agents
Chapter 8 Investigational Antiarrhythmic Drugs
Chapter 9 Common Adverse Events with Antiarrhythmic Drugs

Part 3 Antiarrhythmic Drugs in the Treatment of Cardiac Arrhythmias
Chapter 10 Basic Principles of Using Antiarrhythmic Drugs
Chapter 11 Treatment of Supraventricular Tachyarrhythmias
Chapter 12 Treatment of Ventricular Arrhythmias
Chapter 13 Treatment of Arrhythmias in Pregnancy

Index