| Historical perspectives of cardiac electrophysiology. | |
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MedLine Citation:
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PMID: 19196616 Owner: NLM Status: MEDLINE |
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
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The diagnosis and treatment of clinical electrophysiology has a long and fascinating history. From earliest times, no clinical symptom impressed the patient (and the physician) more than an irregular heart beat. Although ancient Chinese pulse theory laid the foundation for the study of arrhythmias and clinical electrophysiology in the 5th century BC, the most significant breakthrough in the identification and treatment of cardiac arrhythmias first occurred in this century. In the last decades, our knowledge of electrophysiology and pharmacology has increased exponentially. The enormous clinical significance of cardiac rhythm disturbances has favored these advances. On the one hand, patients live longer and thus are more likely to experience arrhythmias. On the other hand, circulatory problems of the cardiac vessels have increased enormously, and this has been identified as the primary cause of cardiac rhythm disorders. Coronary heart disease has become not just the most significant disease of all, based on the statistics for cause of death. Arrhythmias are the main complication of ischemic heart disease, and they have been directly linked to the frequently arrhythmogenic sudden death syndrome, which is now presumed to be an avoidable "electrical accident" of the heart. A retrospective look--often charming in its own right--may not only make it easier to sort through the copious details of this field and so become oriented in this universe of important and less important facts: it may also provide the observer with a chronological vantage point from which to view the subject. The study of clinical electrophysiology is no dry compendium of facts and figures, but rather a dynamic field of study evolving out of the competition between various ideas, intentions and theories. |
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Authors:
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Berndt Lüderitz |
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Publication Detail:
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Type: Historical Article; Journal Article; Portraits |
Journal Detail:
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Title: Hellenic journal of cardiology : HJC = Hellēnikē kardiologikē epitheōrēsē Volume: 50 ISSN: 1109-9666 ISO Abbreviation: - Publication Date: 2009 Jan-Feb |
Date Detail:
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Created Date: 2009-02-12 Completed Date: 2009-03-31 Revised Date: - |
Medline Journal Info:
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Nlm Unique ID: 101257381 Medline TA: Hellenic J Cardiol Country: Greece |
Other Details:
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Languages: eng Pagination: 3-16 Citation Subset: IM |
Affiliation:
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Department of Medicine-Cardiology, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany. b.luederitz@uni-bonn.de |
Export Citation:
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| MeSH Terms | |
Descriptor/Qualifier:
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Animals Arrhythmias, Cardiac / diagnosis, history*, therapy Cardiac Electrophysiology / history* Electrocardiography / history* Electrophysiologic Techniques, Cardiac / history* History, 19th Century History, 20th Century History, Ancient History, Medieval Humans |
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