Atrial Fibrillation - 2

Atrial Fibrillation - CardioNotes 2

EKG Characteristics

Atrial Fibrillation is a supraventricular tachyarrhythmia characterized by uncoordinated atrial activation with consequent deterioration of atrial mechanical function. On the electrocardiogram (ECG), it is described by the replacement of consistent P waves by rapid oscillations or fibrillatory waves that vary in size, shape, and timing, associated with an irregular, frequently rapid ventricular response when atrioventricular (AV) conduction is intact

Introduction

Atrial fibrillation is the most common sustained arrhythmia seen in clinical practice with an estimated 2 million patients with atrial fibrillation in the United States. The prevalence and incidence of atrial fibrillation increase with advancing age. The mainstay of therapy includes pharmacologic rate control, antiarrhythmic therapy, cardioversion, and anti-thromboembolic management. Non-pharmacologic therapies, include ablation with a Pulmonary Vein Isolation, Surgical PVI or Maze Procedure.

Prevalence of Atrial Fibrillation

0.4% general population
0.2% in population 25-34 yrs old
2-5% in population >60 yrs old
10% in population > 80 yrs old
8-14% in hospitalized patients

Incidence of Atrial Fibrillation

0.1%/year (>160,000 new U.S. cases/yr)
20-40% after cardiac surgery

Causes of Atrial Fibrillation

Hypertension
Ischemic heart disease
Advancing age
Rheumatic Heart Disease (especially mitral valve disease)
Nonrheumatic valvular disease
Cardiomyopathies
Congestive Heart Failure
Congenital heart disease
Sick sinus syndrome
Wolff-Parkinson-White Syndrome
Pericarditis
Pulmonary Embolism
Thyrotoxicosis
Chronic lung disease
Neoplastic disease
Postoperative
Diabetes Mellitus
Normal hearts affected by high adrenergic states, alcohol, stress, drugs (especially sympathomimetics), excessive caffeine, Hypoxia, Hypokalemia, Hypoglycemia, or systemic infection.

References

Bellet S. Clinical Disorders of the Heart Beat. 3rd ed. Philadelphia: Lea & Febiger, 1971.
ACC/AHA/ESC Guidelines for the Management of Patients With Atrial Fibrillation: Executive Summary A Report of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Task Force on Practice Guidelines and the European Society of Cardiology Committee for Practice Guidelines and Policy Conferences (Committee to Develop Guidelines for the Management of Patients With Atrial Fibrillation) Developed in Collaboration With the North American Society of Pacing and Electrophysiology

Mick Turner

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Parag

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February 7, 2011 at 10:20 PM delete

Artial Fibrillation is due to the irregularity of sinus node many impulses rise in atria causing missing of pulses. Cardiac rhythm disturbance characterized by uncoordinated, rapid atrial contractions of up to 350 or more impulses per minute Causes are hypertension, Coronary artery disease, heart Failure, Congenital heart disease.
What is Atrial Fibrillation