What is the hallmark of atrial fibrillation?

The common form of typical atrial flutter has saw-tooth flutter waves , best seen in leads II, III, and aVF, with atrial rates of 240-340 bpm. The ventricular response may be regular or irregular. Variable AV conduction can also be seen (commonly present with 2:1 or 3:1 AV conduction).

The hallmark of atrial fibrillation is absence of P-waves and an irregularly irregular (i.e totally irregular) ventricular rate . The baseline (isoelectric line between QRS complexes) is characterized by either fibrillatory waves (f-waves) or just minute oscillations.

The most common symptom: a quivering or fluttering heartbeat

Atrial flutter is an abnormal cardiac rhythm characterized by rapid, regular atrial depolarizations at a characteristic rate of approximately 300 beats/min and a regular ventricular rate of about 150 beats/min in patients not taking atrioventricular (AV) nodal blockers.9 Mar 2021