
(If you're confident in your Atrial Flutter knowledge, though, skip on ahead to the next section for some visual examples of an Atrial Flutter ECG). Let's dive in.īefore trying to identify Atrial Flutter on your ECG, it's helpful to remind yourself what Atrial Flutter actually is. With your trusty watch ECG now in hand, you may be wondering, "What does Atrial Flutter look like on my watch ECG?" In this guide, we'll help you see Atrial Flutter on your watch ECG. In your quest to identify that irregular heart rhythm you just felt, you may have come across the term Atrial Flutter. The Ultimate Cardiologist's Guide to the Smartwatch ECG.How to Read an ECG: Stanford Cardiologist Explains.What PR, QRS, and QTc Intervals Mean on Your ECG.What Heart Palpitations and Irregular Heartbeats Look Like on Your ECG.What Unclassified EKG Means on Your KardiaMobile.What Inconclusive ECG Means on Your Samsung Watch.What Inconclusive ECG Means on Your Fitbit Watch.What Inconclusive ECG Means on Your Apple Watch.It may convert into atrial fibrillation over time or, after administration of drugs such as digoxin.Got other questions on your ECG? See the most popular Qaly guides on the ECG: The causes of atrial flutter are similar to those of atrial fibrillation, although idiopathic atrial flutter is uncommon. Manoeuvres that induce transient atrioventricular block may allow identification of flutter waves. The non-conducting flutter waves are often mistaken for or merged with T waves and become apparent only if the block is increased.

Identification of a regular tachycardia with this rate should prompt the diagnosis of atrial flutter. Typically 2:1 block (atrial rate to ventricular rate) occurs, giving a ventricular rate of 150 beats/min. The ventricular rate depends on conduction through the atrioventricular node.

These are broad and appear saw-toothed and are best seen in the inferior leads and in lead V1. This produces atrial contractions at a rate of about 300 beats/min-seen on the electrocardiogram as flutter (F) waves. It may be precipitated by an atrial extrasystole or result from degeneration of other supraventricular tachycardias, particularly atrial tachycardia and/or flutter.Ītrial flutter is due to a re-entry circuit in the right atrium with secondary activation of the left atrium. Mapping R waves against a piece of paper or with calipers usually confirms the diagnosis.Ītrial fibrillation may be paroxysmal, persistent, or permanent. The RR interval remains irregular, however, and the overall rate often fluctuates. Slower rates suggest a higher degree of atrioventricular block or the patient may be taking medication such as digoxin.įast atrial fibrillation may be difficult to distinguish from other tachycardias. The ventricular rate depends on the degree of atrioventricular conduction, and with normal conduction it varies between 100 and 180 beats/min. This combination of absent P waves, fine baseline f wave oscillations, and irregular ventricular complexes is characteristic of atrial fibrillation. Only a few of the impulses transmit through the atrioventricular node to produce an irregular ventricular response. The amplitude of these waves varies between leads but may be so coarse that they are mistaken for flutter waves.Ĭonduction of atrial impulses to the ventricles is variable and unpredictable. Atrial fibrillation is seen on the electrocardiogram as a wavy, irregular baseline made up of f (fibrillation) waves discharging at a frequency of 350 to 600 beats/min. These are often triggered by rapid firing foci. Prognosis is related to the underlying cause it is excellent when due to idiopathic atrial fibrillation and relatively poor when due to ischaemic cardiomyopathy.Ītrial fibrillation is caused by multiple re-entrant circuits or “wavelets” of activation sweeping around the atrial myocardium. Causes are varied, although many cases are idiopathic. Overall prevalence is 1% to 1.5%, but prevalence increases with age, affecting about 10% of people aged over 70.

This is the most common sustained arrhythmia.
