Assessment and treatment of life-threatening ventricular arrhythmias: the role of programmed electrical stimulation, intraoperative mapping, and endocardial resection
Summers, C.; O'Mara, S.R.
Heart and Lung the Journal of Critical Care 14(2): 130-141
1985
ISSN/ISBN: 0147-9563 PMID: 3844394 Document Number: 243563
Increasing numbers of patients have survived one or more episodes of life-threatening VT or VF. This is largely due to more widespread training in cardiopulmonary resuscitation to the lay public, the advent of mobile and hospital coronary care units with improved survival from myocardial infarction, and aggressive treatment of rhythm disturbances. During the past decade, new techniques in the assessment and treatment of VT and VF have been introduced. These include PES, intraoperative mapping, and endocardial resection. As the use of these techniques becomes more widespread, nurses must expand their knowledge base to include an understanding of their indications and applications so that they may effectively contribute to the emotional and physiologic support of patients undergoing such procedures.