Abstract
Cardiac rhythm disturbances are a problem commonly encountered in clinical practice and their prevalence is higher in critically-ill patients. The spectrum of arrhythmias and their arrhythmogenic mechanisms are generally similar in both patients in intensive care units and in the general population, but triggers of these arrhythmias may differ between these groups.
Moreover, arrhythmias with otherwise benign prognosis may represent an important clinical issue in critically-ill patients, especially due to their haemodynamic consequences that can lead to a significant deterioration of organ functions and overall health. The treatment of cardiac rhythm disorders always needs to be carefully individually considered.