Bradycardia pathophysiology
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Bradycardia Microchapters |
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Diagnosis |
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Bradycardia pathophysiology On the Web |
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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: M.Umer Tariq [2]
Overview
Pathophysiology
Pathologic bradycardias are caused by disorders of impulse generation (impaired automaticity at SA node), impulse conduction (heart block) or escape pacemakers and rhythms. Bradycardia can be underlain by several causes, which are best divided into cardiac and non-cardiac causes. Non-cardiac causes are usually secondary, and can involve recreational drug use, endocrine disorders (hypothyroid); electrolyte imbalance (hyperkalemia); autonomic reflexes; situational factors (prolonged bed rest); infections lyme disease, medications, and autoimmunity disorders. Cardiac causes include acute or chronic ischemic heart disease, vascular heart disease, valvular heart disease, or degenerative primary electrical disease (fibrosis and calcification of the sinus node and conduction system).