Rhythmology
Rhythmology is the study of the electrical excitation of the heart and the resulting pump function ( contraction ). It is therefore a specialty of cardiology or pediatric cardiology . Deviations from the physiological sinus rhythm are known as cardiac arrhythmias . Recognizing and treating these is the subject of clinical rhythmology or cardiac electrophysiology. Cardiac arrhythmias can be both congenital and acquired.
Typical diagnostic procedures are:
- electrocardiogram
- Exercise ECG
- Long-term ECG
- Event recorder
- Electrophysiological examination
- Drug provocation tests (e.g. ajmaline provocation if Brugada syndrome is suspected )
- Molecular genetic diagnostics (for hereditary arrhythmia syndromes, e.g. long QT syndrome )
Both invasive and non-invasive procedures are used therapeutically:
- Antiarrhythmics
- External cardioversion , defibrillation
- Implantation of pacemakers , implantable cardioverter defibrillators , devices for cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT)
- Sclerotherapy of arrhythmogenic heart tissue as part of an electrophysiological examination z. B. by high frequency current or cryogenic energy
- Rhythm surgery (e.g. MAZE surgery )
The advanced training to become an adult rhythmologist takes place within the framework of the special rhythmology curriculum of the German Society for Cardiology - Heart and Circulatory Research eV A structured curriculum for pediatric cardiologists does not yet exist.
Individual evidence
- ↑ German Society for Cardiology-Heart and Circulatory Research eV: Curriculum Special Rhythmology. Retrieved on February 5, 2019 (German).
