The Atrial Arrhythmias

MANY common arrhythmias observed in both atria and ventricles are similar although the atrial types have a few important distinguishing features. Thus, so far as therapy is concerned, the atrial arrhythmias are less responsive to procaine amide than the ventricular ones. On the other hand, quinidine exerts a stronger action on the atria.1 In general, atrial tachycardias do not, if present without complications, endanger life. Atrial paralysis from the failure of impulse formation in the sinus node or a failure of conduction of the impulse from its point of origin is usually compensated immediately by the escape of the deeper . . .