A DB-based and CAI oriented edition of the knowledge on clinical arrhythmias

An effort has been made to develop a teaching-oriented knowledge structure for clinical arrhythmology. The database form is based on a knowledge representation approach. Available methodologies (entity-relationship model, relational schemes, normalization of relations) are used in the analysis and planning of data. A relational database instance in a Paradox environment, comprising 43 relational schemes for the rhythm diagnostic classes, and 63 for the beat classes, was developed during a long period of cooperation with a cardiologist. As intermediate objectives some applications that search for synonyms and any functional dependence, aggregation, and disaggregation relationships have been developed, making it possible to integrate information effectively and properly. For each diagnosis considered in both the rhythm and beat domains, the database yields a detailed description of the characteristic segments of the relevant ECG (electrocardiogram) trace.< >