What happens in the heart with atrial flutter?

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.

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.

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.