Atrioventricular junctional arrhythmias

Street drugs sometimes contain adulterants added to increase the volume of drug perceived to be purchased. A case study reports atrioventricular junctional arrhythmia caused by quinine/quinidine added to heroin which was subsequently intravenously injected [24 ]. The authors report that a normal urine toxicological screening assay would not detect the adulteration, and that physicians should be aware of common adulterants. 

The most common cardiac manifestations of digitalis toxicity include atrioventricular junctional rhythm, premature ventricular depolarizations, bigeminal rhythm, and second-degree atrioventricular blockade. However, it is claimed that digitalis can cause virtually any arrhythmia. 

Scheinman MM, Morady F, Hess DS, Gonzalez R. Catheter-induced ablation of the atrioventricular junction to control refractory supraventricular arrhythmias. JAMA 1982 248 851-5. 

Scheinman, M. M., Morady, F., Hess, D. S., and Gonzalez, R., 1982, Catheter-induced Ablation of the Atrioventricular Junction to Control Refractoiy Supraventricular Arrhythmias, 74AfA, 248 851-855. 

Chapters 2 through 5 address the full spectrum of arrhythmia interpretation—including sinus node, atrial, junctional, and ventricular arrhythmias and atrioventricular blocks. For each arrhythmia, you ll find a concise description of key traits, an ECG... 

---