Arrhythmias in acute myocardial infarction.

Almost all of the controversies about the management of arrhythmias during acute infarction have now been resolved. With initiation of early thrombolytic therapy, both bradyarrhythmia and tachyarrhythmia will often accompany the reperfusion. However, the principles that have evolved should provide adequate therapeutic guidelines. The primary persisting challenge is to identify the patients during the convalescent phase who are at high risk for ventricular tachycardia or fibrillation and to institute the appropriate prophylactic therapy.