ABSTRACT
Beta-blocking drugs have provided significant improvement in the medical therapy of many types of heart disease. They are more effective in treating young hypertensive patients than elderly hypertensive patients. These drugs reduce the ventricular rate seen in atrial flutter and fibrillation, and they also reduce the frequency of ventricular ectopy. Beta blockers are important adjuncts for control of angina pectoris. When these drugs are given for a period of 1 to 3 years after myocardial infarction they reduce the incidence of reinfarction and the frequency of sudden death as well as reduce the overall mortality rate. Factors that may contribute to the overall decreased mortality include the reduction in the reinfarction rate and an increased threshold for ventricular fibrillation as well as those mechanisms that reduce myocardial oxygen utilization.
Subject(s)
Adrenergic beta-Antagonists/therapeutic use , Arrhythmias, Cardiac/drug therapy , Coronary Disease/drug therapy , Hypertension/drug therapy , Adrenergic beta-Antagonists/metabolism , Angina Pectoris/drug therapy , Angina Pectoris/physiopathology , Animals , Arrhythmias, Cardiac/physiopathology , Atenolol/therapeutic use , Blood Pressure/drug effects , Coronary Disease/physiopathology , Dogs , Heart Rate/drug effects , Humans , Hypertension/physiopathology , Labetalol/therapeutic use , Myocardial Infarction/drug therapy , Myocardial Infarction/physiopathology , Propranolol/therapeutic useABSTRACT
The phenomenon of isolated mechanical alternans of the right ventricle is described in the setting of right ventricular infarction. We also discuss the resemblance of right ventricular infarction to cardiac tamponade or pericardial constriction.
Subject(s)
Myocardial Infarction/physiopathology , Pulse , Aged , Blood Pressure , Heart Ventricles , Humans , Male , Pulmonary ArteryABSTRACT
Early diagnosis of atrial myxoma can be made by a high index of suspicion in patients in whom embolic phenomena, systemic manifestations, syncope, or suspected mitral or tricuspid valvular disease are noted. When the presence of an atrial myxoma is suspected, echocardiographic evaluation should be done promptly. This noninvasive technique has no morbidity or mortality and is accurate in greater than 90 percent of cases.