New approaches to management of arrhythmias after myocardial infarction.

More effective modalities for the evaluation and management of arrhythmias in the postinfarction patient continue to evolve. They offer the hope of significantly ameliorating the morbidity and mortality associated with these arrhythmias. Although arrhythmias and disturbances of conduction are among the most important and potentially lethal consequences of myocardial infarction, advances in evaluation and management of these problems have helped to improve prognosis for these patients. Greater long-term arrhythmia-free survival can be achieved when therapy is guided by programmed electrical stimulation. Pacemakers, newer antiarrhythmic drugs, the automatic implantable cardioverter-defibrillator, catheter ablation, and surgery are all important tools in the management of ventricular arrhythmias and the prevention of sudden death.