| [ Summary ] |
Because of the increased life span of dialysis patients through advancements in dialytic treatment, age related problems such as changes in body fluids and electrolytes, autonomic abnormalities, etc. frequently cause various forms of arrhythmia. Arrhythmia often occurs at the introduction of dialysis and in the late stages of the dialytic patient's lives. Italso occurs four to six hours after dialysis treatment and in the latter portion of dialytic treatment. It is important that the early stages of malignant arrhythmia be detected by regular electrocardiographic and chest X-ray examinations and by the proper Holter ambulatory monitoring, as well as echocardiography. It is also important that heart catheter examination and electrophysiologic examinations also be planned when necessary. Thereafter, the appropriate choice, whether drug therapy or non-drug therapy should be considerd.
Because anti-arrhythmic drugs usually have pro-arrhythmic actions and negative inotropic actions, they should not be used without serious consideration. In the management of arrhythmia, it is necessary to select the best treatment for the improvement of dialysis patient's QOL and overall life prognosis. |