Mechanisms of Cardiac Arrhythmias

This chapter describes the mechanisms of cardiac arrhythmias, categorizing them into disorders of impulse formation and disorders of impulse conduction. The first category encompasses changes in automaticity and triggered activity, whether due to early or delayed depolarizations. Disorders of impulse conduction are addressed within a unified framework, as they may lead to abnormal conduction block or various types of reentry. The phenomenon of aberrancy is discussed in detail. Finally, a clinical perspective is provided, examining the underlying mechanisms of each clinical arrhythmia.