Atrial flutter overview: Difference between revisions
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==Pathophysiology== | ==Pathophysiology== | ||
[[Atrial flutter]] is a form of cardiac arrhythmia characterized by an atrial rate ranging from 240 to 400 beats per minute. It is the most common atrial tachycardia after [[atrial fibrillation]], with a uniform and regular continuous wave-form.<ref name="pmid19668035">{{cite journal |author=Dhar S, Lidhoo P, Koul D, Dhar S, Bakhshi M, Deger FT |title=Current concepts and management strategies in atrial flutter |journal=South. Med. J. |volume=102 |issue=9 |pages=917–22 |year=2009 |month=September |pmid=19668035 |doi=10.1097/SMJ.0b013e3181b0f4b8 |url=}}</ref> It is caused by a [[Cardiac arrhythmia#Reentry|reentrant rhythm]] in either the right or left atrium. Some degree of atrio-ventricular block is usually associated with atrial flutter. Similar to atrial fibrillation the rate of ventricular beating depends on the degree of conduction through the atrio-ventricular node. Usual scenario is 2:1 or 4:1 conduction but occasionally there can exist a 1:1 conduction. | [[Atrial flutter]] is a form of cardiac arrhythmia characterized by an atrial rate ranging from 240 to 400 beats per minute. It is the most common atrial tachycardia after [[atrial fibrillation]], with a uniform and regular continuous wave-form.<ref name="pmid19668035">{{cite journal |author=Dhar S, Lidhoo P, Koul D, Dhar S, Bakhshi M, Deger FT |title=Current concepts and management strategies in atrial flutter |journal=South. Med. J. |volume=102 |issue=9 |pages=917–22 |year=2009 |month=September |pmid=19668035 |doi=10.1097/SMJ.0b013e3181b0f4b8 |url=}}</ref> It is caused by a [[Cardiac arrhythmia#Reentry|reentrant rhythm]] in either the right or left atrium. Some degree of atrio-ventricular block is usually associated with atrial flutter. Similar to atrial fibrillation the rate of ventricular beating depends on the degree of conduction through the atrio-ventricular node. Usual scenario is 2:1 or 4:1 conduction but occasionally there can exist a 1:1 conduction. | ||
==Causes== | |||
Atrial flutter is caused by a re-entrant rhythm in either the right or left atrium. Causes of atrial flutter can be grouped into two categories, intrinsic diseases and abnormalities of the heart and diseases elsewhere in the body that can affect the heart. Most common causes of atrial flutter are [[coronary artery disease]], [[Hypertension|hypertensive heart disease]] and valve abnormalities of the heart. | |||
==References== | ==References== | ||
Revision as of 14:27, 25 January 2013
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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor-In-Chief: Cafer Zorkun, M.D., Ph.D. [2]
Overview
Atrial flutter is an abnormal heart rhythm that occurs in the atria of the heart. When it first occurs, it is usually associated with a fast heart rate or tachycardia, and falls into the category of supra-ventricular tachycardias. While this rhythm occurs most often in individuals with cardiovascular disease (eg: hypertension, coronary artery disease, and cardiomyopathy), it may occur spontaneously in people with otherwise normal hearts. It is typically not a stable rhythm, and frequently degenerates into atrial fibrillation. However, it does rarely persist for months to years.
Classification
There are two types of atrial flutter, the common type I and rarer type II. Most individuals with atrial flutter will manifest only one of these. Rarely someone may manifest both types; however, they can only manifest one type at a time.
Pathophysiology
Atrial flutter is a form of cardiac arrhythmia characterized by an atrial rate ranging from 240 to 400 beats per minute. It is the most common atrial tachycardia after atrial fibrillation, with a uniform and regular continuous wave-form.[1] It is caused by a reentrant rhythm in either the right or left atrium. Some degree of atrio-ventricular block is usually associated with atrial flutter. Similar to atrial fibrillation the rate of ventricular beating depends on the degree of conduction through the atrio-ventricular node. Usual scenario is 2:1 or 4:1 conduction but occasionally there can exist a 1:1 conduction.
Causes
Atrial flutter is caused by a re-entrant rhythm in either the right or left atrium. Causes of atrial flutter can be grouped into two categories, intrinsic diseases and abnormalities of the heart and diseases elsewhere in the body that can affect the heart. Most common causes of atrial flutter are coronary artery disease, hypertensive heart disease and valve abnormalities of the heart.