[Cardiac arrhythmias. Types and drug therapy (author's transl)].

Arrhythmias are the expression of disordered stimulus formation or conduction. Focal genesis is due to an abnormal automatism in primary, secondary and tertiary impulse centers. Conduction blockade leads to bradycardial substitute rhythms which are determined by the site of the lesion. Bradycardial arrhythmias with a high degree of risk, with disturbed impulse automatism or with impaired hemodynamics require treatment with a pacemaker. Tachycardial and extrasystolic arrhythmias are treated today according to the differential therapeutic aspects. Treatment is also obligatory for premonitory arrhythmias and an identified Stokes-Adams disease. Ventricular fibrillations, high-grade ventricular bradycardia and asystole are cardiological emergencies.