Key Recommendations Lenient rate control (<110 beats per minute resting) is recommended over strict rate control (<80 beats per minute resting) for patients who have atrial fibrillation. The risk of stroke and bleeding should be discussed with all patients considering anticoagulation.
Read moreIs anticoagulation needed for atrial flutter?
Most patients with atrial flutter should be considered for chronic anticoagulation in a manner similar to those with atrial fibrillation (AF). This recommendation is based not only on the fact atrial flutter carries a risk for systemic embolization but also that these patients usually have episodes of AF.
Read moreIs atrial fibrillation a reentry mechanism?
Contemporary theories of the mechanism of atrial fibrillation require an understanding of re-entry as a mechanism of arrhythmogenesis . Re-entry, which is not a disorder of impulse formation but rather a disorder of impulse propagation, occurs when an impulse travels around an abnormal circuit repetitively.
Read moreWhat stimulates atrial fibrillation?
Advanced age is one of the biggest triggers of AFib. It’s one of the most common reasons for an irregular heartbeat in people over 65, and 70 percent of people with AFib are between the ages of 65 and 85.
Read moreWhat is the pathophysiology of atrial fibrillation with RVR?
Rapid ventricular rate or response (RVR) AFib is caused by abnormal electrical impulses in the atria , which are the upper chambers of the heart. These chambers fibrillate, or quiver, rapidly. The result is a rapid and irregular pumping of blood through the heart.
Read moreWhat is the first-line treatment for atrial fibrillation?
Beta-blockers and calcium channel blockers are first-line agents for rate control in AF. These drugs can be administered either intravenously or orally. They are effective at rest and with exertion. Intravenous diltiazem or metoprolol are commonly used for AF with a rapid ventricular response.
Read moreWhat is cardioversion procedure?
Cardioversion is a procedure used to return an abnormal heartbeat to a normal rhythm . This procedure is used when the heart is beating very fast or irregular. This is called an arrhythmia. Arrhythmias can cause problems such as fainting, stroke, heart attack, and even sudden cardiac death.
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