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Arrhythmias in the Athlete

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Management of Cardiac Arrhythmias

Part of the book series: Contemporary Cardiology ((CONCARD))

Abstract

Cardiac arrhythmias in the absence of underlying structural heart disease and cardiovascular conditions predisposing to arrhythmias represent a unique challenge for the clinician. Despite comprehensive evaluation, uncertainty frequently remains regarding management and athletic participation. Pre-participation screening strategies have many limitations in identifying cardiovascular conditions that predispose to life-threatening arrhythmias with exercise. Since screening strategies for detecting and preventing sudden death on the athletic field have not been shown to have sufficient sensitivity, specificity, and cost-effectiveness, it is likely that initial manifestation of cardiovascular conditions predisposing to sudden death will continue to be cardiac arrest in a considerable number of athletes. Based on this, recommendations for automatic external defibrillation, training in cardiopulmonary resuscitation, and an emergency response planning have been developed for athletic activities. Guidance is also available to clinicians regarding evaluation, management, and athletic participation of arrhythmias in athletes. Most commonly, clinical judgment and experience, rather than evidence, are the basis of these recommendations for therapy and athletic participation. The cardiovascular conditions predisposing to arrhythmias and the arrhythmias that can occur in the absence of any structural heart disease in the athlete are reviewed in this chapter from multiple perspectives. These include clinical evaluation of the athlete with arrhythmias, screening strategies for cardiovascular conditions that predispose to arrhythmias, and guidelines for athletic participation.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Central Florida College of Medicine, Orlando, FL, USA

    Shayna McEnteggart

  2. Heart and Vascular Institute, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA

    Aditya Bhonsale & N. A. Mark Estes III

  3. Division of Cardiology, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA

    Mark S. Link

  4. Cardiac Arrhythmia Services, University of Texas Southwestern, Dallas, TX, USA

    Mark S. Link

Authors
  1. Shayna McEnteggart
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  2. Aditya Bhonsale
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  3. Mark S. Link
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  4. N. A. Mark Estes III
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to N. A. Mark Estes III .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Lankenau Heart Institute, Thomas Jefferson University, Wynnewood, PA, USA

    Gan-Xin Yan

  2. Lankenau Heart Institute, Thomas Jefferson University, Wynnewood, PA, USA

    Peter R. Kowey

  3. Lankenau Heart Institute, Thomas Jefferson University, Wynnewood, PA, USA

    Charles Antzelevitch

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McEnteggart, S., Bhonsale, A., Link, M.S., Mark Estes, N.A. (2020). Arrhythmias in the Athlete. In: Yan, GX., Kowey, P., Antzelevitch, C. (eds) Management of Cardiac Arrhythmias. Contemporary Cardiology. Humana, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-41967-7_27

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-41967-7_27

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  • Publisher Name: Humana, Cham

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  • Online ISBN: 978-3-030-41967-7

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