What is the effect of atrial flutter?

Atrial flutter is a type of abnormal heart rhythm, or arrhythmia. It occurs when a short circuit in the heart causes the upper chambers (atria) to pump very rapidly. Atrial flutter is important not only because of its symptoms but because it can cause a stroke that may result in permanent disability or death .

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What is the pattern of atrial flutter?

Atrial flutter causes the heart to beat in a fast but regular pattern — unlike afib, which causes a fast and irregular pattern. Atrial flutter produces a distinctive “sawtooth” pattern on an electrocardiogram (EKG or ECG), a test used to monitor the heart and diagnose heart rhythm disorders.

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