ATRIAL FLUTTER

ATRIAL FIBRILLATION

Atrial flutter results from a circular re-entrant movement of electrical energy within the atrium.

ULTRASOUND

• Typically 2:1 conduction:
• Atrial Rate = 300-480 beats/min.
• Ventricular rate = 200 beats/min.
• Atrioventricular block - varying degrees leading to varying ventricular response rates. Ventricular response is either fixed, regular or variable and irregular.
• Sudden onset and offset.
• Heart failure may be present.

Atrial fibrillation is less common than atrial flutter.

• Associated anomalies:
• Congenital heart disease (22%)
• Prognosis:
• 65% have congestive heart failure at birth.
• 91% survival rate.