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.
Read moreWhat causes AFIB physiology?
Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a common heart rhythm disorder caused by degeneration of the electrical impulses in the upper cardiac chambers (atria) resulting in a change from an organized heart rhythm to a rapid, chaotic rhythm.
Read moreWhat is atrial flutter in ECG?
Atrial flutter occurs when a “reentrant” circuit is present, causing a repeated loop of electrical activity to depolarize the atrium at a rate of about 250 to 350 beats per minute ; the atrial rate in atrial fibrillation is 400 to 600 bpm.
Read moreHow is atrial flutter managed?
Treatment options for atrial flutter include the following : Direct-current (DC) cardioversion . Antiarrhythmic drugs/nodal rate control agents. Rapid atrial pacing to terminate atrial flutter.
Read moreWhat happens in the heart with atrial flutter?
In atrial flutter, your heart’s upper chambers (atria) beat too quickly . This causes the heart to beat in a fast, but usually regular, rhythm. Atrial flutter is a type of heart rhythm disorder (arrhythmia) caused by problems in your heart’s electrical system.
Read moreWhat is more lethal atrial flutter or atrial fibrillation?
Both heart diseases have the potential of becoming serious. However, many doctors and other health care professionals consider atrial flutter to be less serious than atrial fibrillation because flutter symptoms tend to be less severe and flutter waves have a less risk of embolization (clot formation).
Read moreWhat is difference between atrial fibrillation and atrial flutter?
In atrial fibrillation, the atria beat irregularly. In atrial flutter, the atria beat regularly, but faster than usual and more often than the ventricles , so you may have four atrial beats to every one ventricular beat.
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