The volume includes more than seventy articles written by well-recognized world leaders in the field of clinical electrophysiology and arrhythmology. It represents an important update on the most recent advances in the diagnosis, prognosis and treatment of cardiac arrhythmias.

This book contains the Proceedings of the "sth International Workshop on Cardiac Arrhythmias" held in Venice on October 7-10, 1997. They represent an update on the most recent advances in the diagnosis, prognosis and treatment of cardiac arrhythmias; the contributions, made by numerous well-known world leaders in the field of clinical electrophysiology and arrhythmology, cover an array of timely topics including fibrillation and other supraventricular tach yarrhythmias, diagnosis and management of ventricular arrhythmias; risk strati fication and prevention of sudden death in post-myocardial infarction patients: technological advances, clinical issues and new indications of lCD therapy, update on syncope and progress in clinical pacing. I would like to express my sincere and profound gratitude to all the Authors that with enthusiasm and devotion have allowed the realization of this book. Without their effort and excellent job this volume would not have been possible. A special word of thanks also to the Publisher, Springer-Verlag, that with great expertise and care has followed the production process of the book. Finally, my deepest appreciation goes to Prof. Eligio Piccolo for his example and continuous encouragement, to my present colleagues, in particular Dr. De Piccoli, Di Pede, Rigo, Bonso, Zuin and Gasparini, for their unvaluable help in preparing and realizing the workshop and to my wife and children for their patience, per sonal sacrifice and support."