Does atrial flutter cause decreased cardiac output?

Atrial flutter with atrioventricular node blockade is a potentially life-threatening cause of bradycardia and decompensation of heart failure usually seen in patients with pre-existing valvular or structural diseases and/or conduction system disease. Diagnosis is usually by ECG.4 Tem 2014

Symptoms in patients with atrial flutter typically reflect decreased cardiac output as a result of the rapid ventricular rate. The most common symptom is palpitations. Other symptoms include fatigue, dyspnea, and chest pain.

AF is often described as having ‘rapid ventricular response’ once the ventricular rate is > 100 bpm. ‘Slow’ AF is a term often used to describe AF with a ventricular rate < 60 bpm . Causes of ‘slow’ AF include hypothermia, digoxin toxicity, and medications.