Atrial Flutter Flashcards
1
Q
What causes atrial flutter?
A
An aberrant macro-circuit within the right atrium which cycles at 300bpm.
2
Q
Symptoms
A
Asymptomatic
Palpitations
Dizziness
Chest pain
3
Q
ECG changes
A
Regular rhythm
Saw-tooth baseline with repetition at 300bpm (these are atrial flutter waves)
Narrow QRS complexes
Ventricular rate which depends on the level of AV block:
150bpm if 2:1
100bpm if 3:1
75bpm if 4:1
60bpm if 5:1
4
Q
Treatment
A
Initial management is similar to that AF and therefore the exact distinction between AF and flutter is academic in the acute setting (i.e. it doesn’t matter if you are not sure which one it is!)
5
Q
What are the shockable rhythms?
A
Ventricular tachycardia
Ventricular fibrillation
6
Q
What are the non-shockable rhythms?
A
Pulseless electrical activity
Asystole
