Atrial flutter

Atrial flutter is a transient (paroxysmal = paroxysmal ) or persistent (permanent ) cardiac arrhythmia, 240 in which the upper chambers of the heart at rest irregularly - on the other hand beat up to 340 times per minute, the chambers generally slower.

Without the influence of drugs atrial flutter usually leads to " rapid heart beat " in the form of a regular pulse rate (tachycardia) to 120 to 170 beats per minute, because the AV node typically only every second excitation of the atria to the chambers via passes (2:1 conduction ). When disturbed conduction and under the influence AV nodal blocking drugs ( eg, verapamil, beta-blockers or digitalis ) increases the blocking ratio ( eg 3:1 or 4:1 or irregular), so that the ventricles slowly and possibly beat irregularly.

With regard to the diagnosis and therapy, atrial flutter differs only slightly from the more common atrial fibrillation, but the electrophysiological therapy of atrial flutter in the form of the posterior isthmus ablation in the right atrium is simple, proven and successful than the PV ablation for atrial fibrillation.

• Disease in cardiology
• Disease in emergency medicine