EKG

Atrial Flutter

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Atrial Flutter

  • See Also
  1. Atrial Fibrillation
  2. Atrial Fibrillation Causes
  3. Electrocardiogram in Atrial Fibrillation
  4. Atrial Fibrillation Acute Management
  5. Atrial Fibrillation Anticoagulation
  6. Atrial Fibrillation Cardioversion
  7. Atrial Fibrillation Rate Control
  • Types
  1. Type I Atrial Flutter (typical)
    1. Constant atrial rate of 240 to 350 beats per minute
    2. Ventricular rate will usually be at least a 2:1 block (AV Node prevents rates above 180)
    3. Natural rate is altered by age, atrial dilation and Antiarrhythmics (esp Type Ia or Type Ic)
  2. Type II
    1. Constant atrial rate at 340 to 440 beats per minute (Faster Atrial Flutter rate than with Type I)
    2. Differs from Type I in reentry accessory path
  • Signs
  1. Constant atrial rate
    1. Atrial to ventricular rates may range from 1:1 to 4:1
    2. Atrial to ventricular rate 2 to 1 (most common)
      1. Atrial rate of 240 to 350 beats per minute
      2. Ventricular rate 140-150 beats per minute
  • Diagnostics
  • EKG
  1. Constant atrial rate
    1. Atrial rate: 300 per minute (typical)
    2. Atrial to ventricular rate
      1. Ratio 1:1 - 300 bpm (Rare, but potentially lethal)
      2. Ratio 2:1 - 150 bpm (most common)
      3. Ratio 4:1 - 75 bpm
  2. Saw tooth flutter waves
    1. May be difficult to visualize at a 2:1 AV Block (rate 140-150) due to overlapping QRS Complex with flutter wave
    2. Increase EKG "paper speed" to 50 mm/sec (rapid) to spread out complexes (P Waves may be seen)
  3. Images
    1. cvEKGAtrialFlutter4to1sawtooth.jpg
  • Management
  1. See Atrial Fibrillation Management
  2. Highly responsive to Synchronized Cardioversion at low energy levels
    1. Dr. Amal Mattu (paraphrased): "you could rub your shoes together to shock Atrial Flutter back to sinus"