Arterial fibrillation Flashcards
1
Q
what is AF?
A
- chaotic and disorganised atrial activity
- irregular heartbeat
- can be paroxysmal, persistent or permanent
- most common sustained arrhythmia
- can by symptomatic or asymtomatic
- incidence increases with age
2
Q
what is the mechanism of AF?
A
- ectopic foci in muscle sleeves in the ostia of the pulmonary veins
3
Q
how is AF treated?
A
termination
- pharmacologic cardioversion with anti-arrhythmic drugs (30% effective)
- electrical cardioversion (op% effective)
- spontaneous reversion to sinus rhythm
4
Q
what are the forms of AF?
A
- paroxysmal
- persistent
- permanent
5
Q
what is paroxysmal AF?
A
- paroxysmal and lasting less than 48 hours
- often recurrent
6
Q
what is persistant AF?
A
- an episode of AF lasting greater then 48 hours which can still be cardioverted to NSR
- unlikely to spontaneously revert to NSR
7
Q
what is permanent AF?
A
- inability to pharmacologic or non-pharmacologic methods to restore NSR
8
Q
what are disease/causes associated with AF?
A
- hypertension
- congestive heart failure
- coronary artery disease
- obesity
- alcohol abuse
- congenital heart disease
- COPD pneumonia
9
Q
what is lone (idiopathic) AF?
A
- absence f any heart diseases and no evidence of ventricular dysfunction
- could be genetic
- significant stroke rate > 75 years of age
10
Q
what are the symptoms of AF?
A
- palitations
- pre-syncpoe
- syncope
- chest pain
- dyspnea
- sweatiness
- fatigue
symptoms often worse at the onset of AF
11
Q
what would the ECG show for AF?
A
- atrial rate >300bmp
- irreglarly irregular rhythm
- variable ventricle rate based on AV node conduction properties, sympa and para tone, presence of drugs which act on the AV node
- absence of P Waves
- presence of f waves
12
Q
what may be required for AF with a slow ventricular rate?
A
- a pacemaker to allow for pharmacologic control of fast VR
13
Q
when is AF most likely to result in congestive heart failure?
A
- in the presence of diastolic dysfunction
14
Q
what does a bmp <60 suggest?
A
- AV conduction disease
- caution with anti-arrhytgmic and rate controlling drugs
- may require permanent pacing
15
Q
how is AF managed?
A
- maintain SR
Or - accept AP but control ventricular rate
- anticoagulation for both approaches if high risk for thromboembolism