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Related Experiment Videos

Atrial flutter.

J S Olshaker1

  • 1Department of Emergency Medicine, Naval Hospital San Diego, CA 92134-5000.

The Journal of Emergency Medicine
|January 1, 1988
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Atrial flutter is an unstable heart rhythm originating in the atria, often caused by cardiac or pulmonary issues. Electrical cardioversion is the safest treatment for unstable patients, while medications can manage non-emergent cases.

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Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Electrophysiology
  • Cardiac Arrhythmias

Background:

  • Atrial flutter is a supraventricular tachydysrhythmia linked to atrial electrophysiologic disturbances.
  • It is often associated with underlying cardiac or pulmonary conditions or external factors affecting the heart.
  • The rhythm arises from reentry mechanisms or increased atrial automaticity, causing regular atrial depolarization at 260-340 bpm.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To summarize the understanding of atrial flutter's pathophysiology and clinical presentation.
  • To outline the management strategies for atrial flutter, differentiating between emergent and non-emergent situations.

Main Methods:

  • Review of the electrophysiologic basis of atrial flutter.
  • Discussion of the conduction patterns through the atrioventricular (AV) node.

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  • Overview of clinical manifestations and treatment options.

    • Main Results:

    • Atrial flutter typically exhibits a 2:1 AV block with a normal AV node, but higher blocks or 1:1 conduction can occur.
    • 1:1 conduction, particularly with accessory pathways, can lead to severe symptoms like syncope and angina.
    • Electrical cardioversion is the preferred method for unstable patients.

    Conclusions:

    • Electrical cardioversion is the most reliable and safest treatment for terminating atrial flutter, especially in unstable individuals.
    • For non-emergent atrial flutter, pharmacologic interventions can be used to restore normal rhythm or control the ventricular rate.