The purpose of this course is to provide physicians, nurses, and other healthcare professionals with up-to-date knowledge of risk factors for development of ventricular arrhythmias, recommended therapies for the immediate and long-term management of arrhythmias, and indications of complications or side effects of therapy necessary to facilitate effective patient management, early identification of problems, and appropriate patient and family education. In addition, members of the public may use this course to enhance their personal knowledge of the subject matter presented.
Upon completion of this course, you should be able to:
1. Describe the use of antiarrhythmic medications in the long-term management of ventricular arrhythmias.
2. Describe additional therapies that may be used in the management of ventricular arrhythmias, including the optimization of medical therapy for underlying heart disease and the use of ventricular reconstruction surgery.
3. Analyze current trends and issues in the management of persons who have, or are at risk for, ventricular arrhythmias.
4. Using simulated clinical data, discuss the clinical management of a person with ischemic cardiomyopathy and nonsustained VT, and the clinical management of a person who experiences multiple ICD shocks.
5. Define basic concepts of normal cardiac conduction, including cellular events, and normal electrocardiogram (ECG) waveform.
6. Identify premature ventricular complexes (PVCs), including electrophysiologic characteristics, patterns of occurrence, related symptoms and common precipitating causes.
7. Describe monomorphic ventricular tachycardia (VT), including electrophysiologic characteristics, impact on physiologic functioning, and underlying pathophysiology.
8. Identify polymorphic VT, including electrophysiologic characteristics, impact on physiologic functioning, and underlying pathophysiology.
9. Describe ventricular fibrillation, including electrophysio-logic characteristics, impact on physiologic functioning, and underlying pathophysiology.
10. List key points in the American Heart Association's Chain of Survival, including the use of automated external defibrillators (AEDs).
11. Summarize key points in the emergency management of life-threatening ventricular arrhythmias for patients, as recommended by Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS) guidelines.
12. Outline the assessment, diagnosis, and risk stratification process for patients who have, or are deemed to be at risk for, ventricular arrhythmias.
13. Describe the management of PVCs and nonsustained VT in persons with and without heart disease.
14. State major indications for implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs) and outline the basic components, functions, therapy options, and implantation procedure for current generation ICDs.
15. Discuss basic discharge education, home safety measures, psychosocial considerations, and medical follow-up for a person post-ICD implantation.
16. Evaluate problems that may occur with ICD functioning, including ICD storm, delivery of inappropriate shocks, and failure to deliver therapy.
This 15-hour continuing education course is available for download for professional development; if continuing education credit is desired, please see instructions included in eBook.
