Atrial tachycardia

Question 1

Focal atrial tachycardia

Answer 1

• Abnormal electrical impulses in the atria distrupt normal firing of the SA node
• Signals are initiated by a single area of an atria called a focus

Question 2

Multifocal atrial tachycardia

Answer 2

Beats originate from different ectopic sides in the atrial wall

Question 3

Atrioventricular reentrant pathway

Answer 3

• accessory pathway forms in or near the AV node
• ## contracts atria and ventricle everytime it loops around

Question 4

Wold parkinson white syndrome

Answer 4

• most common type of AVRNT

- ‘bundle of kent’ is accessory pathway

Question 5

Symptoms

Answer 5

• palpitations
• chest pain
• Dyspnea
• Cool peripheries
• Syncope

Question 6

Atrial flutter type 1

Answer 6

• single reentrant circuit of right atrium

* cavotricuspid isthmus - slows signal so remianing tissue can leave refractory period and be restimulated

Question 7

Atrial flutter type 2

Answer 7

1. Ischaemia -> cells become irritable
2. Myocytes have different refractory periods and conduction speed
3. Electrical impulses sent out too early from atrium
4. Rapid atrial contraction -> AV node has a longer refractory period of 300ms -> atrial contraction not always followed by ventricular contraction

Question 8

Atrial fibrillation

Answer 8

muscle fibres within the atria are all contracting at different times
signals move around the atria completely randomly

Question 9

Different types of AF

Answer 9

1. Paroxysmal AF - comes and goes lasting for <1 week
2. Repeated paroxysmal evenst - stress out the myocyts over long periods of time and lead to progressive scarring and fibrosis
3. Perisistent AF - weeks to months
4. Long standing persistent AF - > 12 months

Question 10

Impacts of atrial flutter

Answer 10

1. Ventricles get tired and decompensate-> heart failure

2. Stroke - atria not contracting effectively allowing blood to stagnate and clots to form which travel to the brain