SICK SINUS SYNDROME

Course overview

SICK SINUS SYNDROME, ALSO KNOWN AS SINUS NODE DYSFUNCTION, IS A DISORDER OF THE SINOATRIAL NODE CAUSED BY IMPAIRED PACEMAKER FUNCTION AND IMPULSE TRANSMISSION PRODUCING A CONSTELLATION OF ABNORMAL RHYTHMS. THESE INCLUDE ATRIAL BRADYARRHYTHMIAS, ATRIAL TACHYARRHYTHMIAS AND, SOMETIMES, BRADYCARDIA ALTERNATING WITH TACHYCARDIA OFTEN REFERRED TO AS TACHY-BRADY SYNDROME. THESE ARRHYTHMIAS MAY RESULT IN PALPITATIONS AND DECREASED TISSUE PERFUSION AND CONSEQUENT FATIGUE, LIGHTHEADEDNESS, PRE-SYNCOPE, AND SYNCOPE. THIS ACTIVITY DESCRIBES THE PATHOPHYSIOLOGY, EVALUATION, AND MANAGEMENT OF SICK SINUS SYNDROME AND HIGHLIGHTS THE ROLE OF THE INTERPROFESSIONAL TEAM IN ITS MANAGEMENT.