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Evaluation of the Patient with Palpitations and Non-life-threatening Cardiac Arrhythmias

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Book cover Cardiology for the primary care Physician

Abstract

  • Palpitations are a frequent but relatively nonspecific cardiac symptom.

  • Palpitations are not a reliable indicator of any particular cardiovascular finding or arrhythmia

  • Palpitations are clinically important when there is associated functional incapacity or concern of the patient, when they cause severe hemodynamic sequelae, or serve as harbingers of life-threatening cardiac arrhythmias in selected patients.

  • A thorough history, physical examination, and judicious use of laboratory testing usually guides management.

  • Management must encompass the nature and severity of the palpitations, the patient’s general medical and cardiac conditions, the mechanism of the arrhythmia, and an algorithm for risk stratification.

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References

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© 2001 Current Medicine, Inc.

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Spratt, K.A., Michelson, E.L. (2001). Evaluation of the Patient with Palpitations and Non-life-threatening Cardiac Arrhythmias. In: Alpert, J.S. (eds) Cardiology for the primary care Physician. Current Medicine Group. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-6601-4_8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-6601-4_8

  • Publisher Name: Current Medicine Group

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4615-6603-8

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4615-6601-4

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

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