From the Guidelines
Arrhythmias can be broadly classified into supraventricular and ventricular types, with supraventricular tachycardias including conditions like atrial fibrillation, atrial flutter, and paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia, as defined in the 2015 ACC/AHA/HRS guideline for the management of adult patients with supraventricular tachycardia 1. The main types of arrhythmias include:
- Bradyarrhythmias (slow heart rate below 60 beats per minute), such as sinus bradycardia and heart blocks
- Tachyarrhythmias (fast heart rate above 100 beats per minute), including:
- Supraventricular tachycardias (originating above the ventricles) like:
- Atrial fibrillation
- Atrial flutter
- Paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia
- Atrioventricular nodal reentrant tachycardia (AVNRT)
- Accessory pathway-mediated reentrant tachycardias
- Ventricular arrhythmias (originating in the lower chambers), including:
- Ventricular tachycardia
- Ventricular fibrillation Premature beats, such as premature atrial contractions (PACs) and premature ventricular contractions (PVCs), are early heartbeats that disrupt normal rhythm, and can be a type of arrhythmia as well, as mentioned in the 2010 American Heart Association guidelines for cardiopulmonary resuscitation and emergency cardiovascular care 1. It's worth noting that the classification of tachyarrhythmias can be based on the appearance of the QRS complex, heart rate, and regularity, as discussed in the 2010 American Heart Association guidelines 1. The most recent and highest quality study, the 2015 ACC/AHA/HRS guideline, provides a comprehensive overview of the types of supraventricular tachycardias, and is the basis for the current understanding and classification of these arrhythmias 1.
- Supraventricular tachycardias (originating above the ventricles) like:
From the Research
Types of Arrhythmias
- Supraventricular arrhythmias: These arrhythmias originate in the upper chambers of the heart and can cause uncomfortable symptoms for patients 2.
- Ventricular arrhythmias: These arrhythmias originate in the lower chambers of the heart and can be life-threatening 3, 4, 5.
Subtypes of Ventricular Arrhythmias
- Monomorphic ventricular tachycardia (MVT): A type of ventricular arrhythmia characterized by a consistent pattern on an electrocardiogram 4.
- Polymorphic ventricular tachycardia/ventricular fibrillation (PVT/VF): A type of ventricular arrhythmia characterized by an irregular pattern on an electrocardiogram 4.
Characteristics of Arrhythmias
- Supraventricular tachycardias can be recognized and classified using a clinical framework and electrocardiographic characteristics 2.
- Ventricular tachyarrhythmias can be associated with underlying cardiac disease and may require antitachycardia pacing termination 4.
- Anti-arrhythmic drugs can be used to manage ventricular arrhythmias, with amiodarone and beta blockers being commonly used options 5.