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Pseudo-Atrial Flutter Secondary to a Chest Wall Percussion Device.
Connecticut Medicine
|May 2, 2018
Summary
Pseudo-atrial flutter, an EKG artifact, can mimic true atrial flutter. This case highlights chest physiotherapy device percussions as a cause in a ventilator-dependent quadriplegic patient with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Neurology
Background:
- Pseudo-atrial flutter is an electrocardiogram (EKG) artifact that can be mistaken for true atrial flutter.
- Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) can lead to quadriplegia and ventilator dependence, requiring specialized care.
Observation:
- A 67-year-old male with ALS, quadriplegia, and ventilator dependence was hospitalized for respite care.
- An electrocardiogram revealed findings suggestive of pseudo-atrial flutter.
Findings:
- The pseudo-atrial flutter was identified as an artifact caused by percussions from a chest wall percussion device integrated into a hospital mattress.
- This device was used for chest physiotherapy.
Implications:
- Recognizing pseudo-atrial flutter is crucial to avoid misdiagnosis and unnecessary interventions.
- This case underscores the importance of considering external mechanical factors as sources of EKG artifacts, particularly in critically ill or immobilized patients.
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