Canine Models for Ventricular Tachyarrhythmia

Excerpt

Recent advances in clinical electrophysiology have been considerable. With sophisticated intracardiac recording and programmed pacing, cardiologists can initiate, terminate, and elucidate the apparent mechanisms of complex cardiac arrhythmias, which had been items of great academic interest but also sources of frustration for concerned practitioners. Given the potential of clinical electrophysiology, the question now arises: Where do we go next?

The major challenge to electrophysiologists is how to channel recent advances in pharmacology, cardiovascular surgery, and pacemaker technology (including implantable automatic defibrillators) into preventing sudden cardiac death. Clinical electrophysiologists already have accumulated considerable experience in patients susceptible to sustained ventricular tachycardia