Electrophysiological Foundations of Cardiac Arrhythmias: A Bridge Between Basic Mechanisms and Clinical Electrophysiology, Second Edition

by Andrew L. Wit; Penelope A. Boyden; Mark E. Josephson; and Hein J. Wellens

Product Details:
Published May 2020
ISBN: 9781942909422
eISBN: 9781942909484
Trim size: 8.5 x 11 inches
372 pages, full color interior
Format: Paperback and eBook set; eBook

Now in an abridged second edition, Electrophysiological Foundations of Cardiac
Arrhythmias focuses on teaching the fundamental concepts of cardiac cellular
electrophysiology with an emphasis on the relationship of basic mechanisms
to clinical cardiac arrhythmias. Understanding this relationship and the
electrophysiological mechanisms underlying arrhythmogenesis will be invaluable
to physicians entering the fields of cardiology and clinical electrophysiology, as
well as those scientists and clinicians already working in these areas.

These essential concepts of electrophysiology include discussion on action
potentials, ion channels and currents, and mechanisms of arrhythmias, and
provide the working knowledge that will enable the reader to approach a board
exam confidently. Additionally, the authors build a base of understanding that will
prepare the reader for more advanced texts, such as Josephson’s Clinical Cardiac
Electrophysiology: Techniques and Interpretations.

About the Authors

The authors, Andrew L. Wit, PhD, Penelope A. Boyden, PhD, Mark E. Josephson,
MD, and Hein J. Wellens, MD, PhD, have spent four lifetimes investigating and defining
electrophysiological mechanisms of cardiac arrhythmias. But equally important, they
have devoted their careers to teaching this subject to students of all levels, from medical
students to more advanced cardiology and clinical electrophysiology fellows.

In Memoriam

Mark E. Josephson passed away on January 11, 2017 as the first edition of this book went to press.
His contributions remain a centerpiece of this second edition. His death is an enormous personal
and professional loss to his co-authors and the cardiology community.

Table of Contents

CHAPTER 1: Basic Principles of Normal Automaticity

CHAPTER 2: Sinus Node Normal Automaticity and Automatic Arrhythmias

CHAPTER 3: Atrial, A-V Junctional, and Ventricular Normal Automaticity and Automatic Arrhythmias
SECTION 3A: Atrial Normal Automaticity and Automatic Arrhythmias
SECTION 3B: Atrioventricular (A-V) Junctional Normal Automaticity and Automatic Arrhythmias
SECTION 3C: Ventricular Normal Automaticity and Automatic Arrhythmias

CHAPTER 4: Abnormal Automaticity: Basic Principles and Arrhythmias

CHAPTER 5: Basic Principles of Delayed Afterdepolarizations (DADs) and Triggered Action Potentials

CHAPTER 6: Delayed Afterdepolarizations: Triggered Arrhythmias
SECTION 6A: Atrial Delayed Afterdepolarizations and Triggered Arrhythmias
SECTION 6B: Atrioventricular (A-V) Junctional Delayed Afterdepolarizations and Triggered Arrhythmias
SECTION 6C: Ventricular Delayed Afterdepolarizations and Triggered Arrhythmias

CHAPTER 7: Basic Principles of Early Afterdepolarizations and Triggered Action Potentials

CHAPTER 8: Early Afterdepolarizations: Triggered Arrhythmias
Congenital Long QT (LQT) Syndromes
Long QT Caused by Structural Heart Disease and/or Ischemia
Acquired Long QT Syndrome

CHAPTER 9: Basic Principles of Reentry: Altered Conduction and Reentrant Excitation

CHAPTER 10: Atrial Reentrant Arrhythmias
SECTION 10A: Atrial Tachycardias Caused by Reentry in Macroreentrant Circuits
SECTION 10B: Atrial Tachycardia Caused by Reentry in Small (Micro) Reentrant Circuits; Focal Reentrant Tachycardia
SECTION 10C: Atrial Fibrillation

CHAPTER 11: Atrioventricular (A-V) Junctional Reentrant Arrhythmias
Reentrant Excitation in the Normal A-V Junction
Reentrant Excitation Utilizing an Accessory A-V Conducting Pathway

CHAPTER 12: Ventricular Reentrant Arrhythmias
Reentry Associated With Nonischemic Cardiomyopathy
Reentry in the Ventricular Conducting System
Other Reentrant Arrhythmias

Doody’s Review Service 5 Star Review *****

This book emphasizes the fundamental concepts of cardiac cellular electrophysiology while focusing on the relationship of basic mechanisms of the different forms of clinically significant cardiac arrhythmias.

This book is excellent. It is a valuable resource for physicians and scientists intending to comprehend the physiology behind various clinically significant arrhythmias.

Reviews from 1st Edition

"Electrophysiological Foundations of Cardiac Arrhythmias by Wit, Josephson, and Wellens is a long overdue text bridging basic science and clinical medicine, thus providing basic scientists, clinical investigators and practicing physicians, unique insights into the mechanisms underlying cardiac arrhythmias. The complex mechanisms responsible for the development of clinical arrhythmias are discussed in detail, but with clarity and appreciation of continuing gaps in our knowledge."
~ Charles Antzelevitch, PhD, FACC, FAHA, FHRS; Lankenau Institute for Medical Research; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

"I read Electrophysiological Foundations of Cardiac Arrhythmias, written by three icons of cardiac electrophysiology with great joy. This is an amazingly comprehensive text, written so that students of all ability level can understand the basic mechanisms of cardiac electrophysiology. My friend Mark Josephson often complained that contemporary electrophysiology had become “electrotechnology.” Physicians had become so concerned with doing things (implanting ICDs, performing ablations) that the underlying understanding of what they were doing was often missed. This text provides a powerful antidote to electrotechnology, appropriate for all true students of electrophysiology."
~ David J. Callans, MD; University of Pennsylvania Health System Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

"It is fair to say that this textbook is a gem, and one every electrophysiologist should want to have. It is one of the last masterpieces that Mark Josephson contributed to with his friends and life-long colleagues, Hein J. Wellens and Andrew L. Wit. It reflects their unique perspective on the integration of basic science into an understanding of human clinical electrophysiology. We are talking about “bench to bedside,” and this fine volume includes some of the best basic and clinical science I have read anywhere. The book is an essential addition to every electrophysiologist’s library."
~ Kenneth A. Ellenbogen, MD; VCU School of Medicine Richmond, Virginia

"The electrophysiologist as the name implies has traditionally been a “physiologist.” Advances in our discipline, be they pharmacological, ablative, or other, have been made on a foundation of better understanding of the mechanism of arrhythmia coupled with technical advances to allow this knowledge to become clinically useful and practical. It seems obvious to conclude that continued progress will be laid on a foundation of more knowledge. Unfortunately, the traditional emphasis on understanding the basic physiology in our specialty has been challenged by clinical exigencies and pressure of time in busy clinical units.

It is thus very timely that we now have available a concise and very readable text providing the fundamentals of the physiology underlying clinical EP. Unique is the emphasis of directly linking the underlying physiology to our understanding of clinical arrhythmias. This link is provided masterfully and clearly by arguably the most influential leaders of our time in the basic arena, Dr. Wit, and in the clinical arena, the tandem of Drs. Wellens and Josephson. I highly recommend this volume to any current trainee as a cornerstone of their chosen career, especially since it is unlikely to be taught to them so clearly and systematically in their current program. Of course, it goes without saying that such a text will enhance the depth of understanding of our craft regardless of the particular path we have taken. I am sure that many of us will join me in expressing their enthusiasm and gratitude to the authors for producing this unique contribution."
~ George Klein, MD; Western University, London, Ontario, Canada

"This is a uniquely authoritative and lucid contribution that seamlessly weaves an understanding of cellular cardiac electrophysiology to inform a deep appreciation of clinical arrhythmias and their ECG recognition. Written by three of the leading pioneers of cellular and clinical electrophysiology for nearly the last half-century, this scholarly yet practical tour de force should prove an invaluable guide to trainees and experienced electrophysiologists alike."
~ Bruce B. Lerman, MD; Cornell University Medical Center, New York Presbyterian Hospital, New York, New York

"Three of the most gifted teachers in the field of cardiac electrophysiology, Wit, Wellens and Josephson, have successfully built the bridge from cellular electrophysiology to the bedside ECG and clinical arrhythmias. This book is a must-read for bench researchers in cardiology regardless of their focus, students looking to understand the clinical application of basic electrophysiologic principles and, of course, the curious clinician who, like me, learns best not from pattern recognition but rather from building on a solid framework of understanding cardiac cellular mechanisms.  The organization of the effort is well thought out and the delivery uniquely clinically relevant. This is a more than a delicious meal; it is a feast of electrophysiology knowledge that will sustain the reader for years to come."
~ Francis Marchlinski, MD; University of Pennsylvania Health System Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

"It is my great pleasure to enthusiastically endorse this incredibly informative book by the giants in the discipline of cardiac electrophysiology. Although this text has experienced a long gestational period, it was well worth the wait.The authors have chosen a unique route namely centering the text on the exposition of basic precepts of cardiac electrophysiology and linking the physiology to clinical arrhythmias. I cannot think of an author set more appropriate for this rather novel and intriguing undertaking. The product is an exciting, informative, well written and well-illustrated text. The book was put together an author set extremely well versed in both basic as well as clinical electrocardiography and electrophysiology and who are acknowledged great teachers and clinicians (Wellens and Josephson) who have a deep appreciation for the links between physiology and clinical arrhythmology. This text is truly unique and will no doubt take its place with iconic texts of our discipline like those of Pick and Langendorff as well as prior books by Josephson and Wellens.

This book is a real treat for the arrhythmia community, and we are very fortunate to have an up-to-date, refreshing, new “bible” for our community of arrhythmia experts. I would recommend this book for both physician in training as well as the more seasoned colleagues. I learned a great deal from these masters over the years and am so excited and pleased that they codified their great knowledge into a formal text. There is no doubt that the reader will share my enthusiasm and excitement when perusing this book."
~ Melvin Scheinman, MD; University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California

"This is a gem of a resource on the electrophysiologic underpinnings of cardiac arrhythmias. Three master teachers discuss the bridge between scientific mechanisms and practical clinical electrophysiology. The textbook is brilliantly illustrated with attractive color images and informative case ECGs acquired over many years from the legendary courses and publications by Drs. Mark Josephson and Hein Wellens.  The scientific principles discussed derive from their unique partnership with their lifelong friend and colleague, Dr. Andrew Wit, who has made major discoveries of fundamental mechanisms of cardiac arrhythmogenesis.  This compendium of clinical and scientific knowledge is a “must read” for students, fellows, and faculty alike in this critically important discipline in cardiology."

~ Richard L. Verrier, Ph.D; Associate Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Harvard-Thorndike Electrophysiology Institute, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Division of Cardiovascular Medicine

Find the review in Pacing and Clinical Electrophysiology by Melvin Scheinman, MD.