A 62 yo woman presents to the emergency department with palpitations. She has a past medical history of hypertension.
Her examination is normal.
Vitals on arrival are: Afebrile, heart rate 70bpm, BP 90/42
An ecg is done and is shown below.
​What is the diagnosis?
Her examination is normal.
Vitals on arrival are: Afebrile, heart rate 70bpm, BP 90/42
An ecg is done and is shown below.
​What is the diagnosis?
This is atrial flutter. It is the second most common tachy-arrhythmia after atrial fibrillation
It is a macroreentrant atrial tachycardia with the loop above the AV node in the right atrium.
- type 1 flutter is the most frequent.
- In this type of flutter, right atrial activation rotates in a counterclockwise direction.
It usually produces a narrow complex tachycardia, with a classic sawtooth pattern best seen in lead II.
It can conduct as
- 1:1, which can be unstable
- 2:1, which is the most common
- 3:1
- 4:1
- It can also be variable which gives the appearance of an irregular rhythm.
How do we best manage the STABLE patient?
How to best manage the UNSTABLE patient?
​Who would you anticoagulate?
Remember that this arrhythmia will typically not revert with vagal manoeuvres.
How to best manage the UNSTABLE patient?
​Who would you anticoagulate?
Remember that this arrhythmia will typically not revert with vagal manoeuvres.
