Atrial Flutter

What’s atrial flutter?

Atrial flutter is likely one of the extra frequent irregular coronary heart rhythms (arrhythmias). It is brought on by an irregular electrical circuit within the higher chambers of the guts (atria) that makes the atria beat shortly and flutter as a substitute of totally squeezing. It can lead to quick coronary heart charges and a coronary heart that does not work in addition to it ought to. This will increase the danger for stroke and will trigger you to really feel poorly.

What causes atrial flutter?

In a standard functioning coronary heart, electrical impulses are despatched out from the sinus node (SA node) in the best atrium. This node controls the guts charge and timing of heartbeats. {The electrical} impulses journey via the guts muscle within the atria. This triggers the muscle to squeeze. In atrial flutter, an irregular electrical circuit varieties within the atria. This causes abnormally frequent contractions within the higher chambers. This new circuit takes over the guts rhythm and charge. It might trigger the decrease chambers of the guts (ventricles) to beat quick too, however usually not as quick because the atria. This usually occurs after some forms of coronary heart surgical procedure, coronary heart muscle harm, or different coronary heart modifications.

Who’s in danger for atrial flutter?

You usually tend to have atrial flutter if any of those apply to you:

Age. The older you might be, the upper the danger.

Hypertension

Diabetes

Coronary artery illness

Coronary heart failure

Coronary heart valve illness

Congenital coronary heart illness

Previous coronary heart surgical procedure

Weight problems

Alcohol consumption

Lung illness

Overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism)

Sleep apnea

Overexercising, akin to in endurance athletes

Household historical past

What are the signs of atrial flutter?

Atrial flutter can scale back the ahead pumping of the guts. It might probably make the guts beat abnormally quick. However some folks don’t have any or minor signs. That is true if their coronary heart charge is managed and their coronary heart in any other case works because it ought to. Should you do have signs, they’ll embrace:

How is atrial flutter recognized?

To diagnose atrial flutter, your healthcare supplier will wish to report your coronary heart rhythm. This may increasingly embrace:

Electrocardiography (ECG). This measures {the electrical} exercise in your coronary heart via tiny patches positioned in your chest and limbs. The patches are related to a machine that data the guts charge and rhythm.

Holter monitoring. This can be a transportable ECG that you may put on to report your coronary heart rhythm for twenty-four hours, or longer. Some fashions could be worn for a number of weeks.

Occasion monitoring. One of these ECG samples your coronary heart charge over a number of days to weeks

It may be exhausting to seize atrial flutter if it occurs on and off or solely lasts a couple of minutes. The longer the recording time of coronary heart rhythm, the upper the possibility atrial flutter could be recorded.

In some circumstances, an implanted monitor (loop recorder) could be surgically positioned beneath the pores and skin over the guts. This may keep in place for as much as 3 years of steady coronary heart monitoring.

How is atrial flutter handled?

The objective of remedy is to manage the guts charge, stop stroke, and preserve a standard coronary heart rhythm.

To regulate coronary heart charge, it’s possible you’ll be given a prescription medication that may decelerate the guts charge.

To stop stroke, your healthcare supplier could prescribe a blood thinner (anticoagulant) to stop a blood clot within the coronary heart. A clot can kind as a result of blood can pool within the fluttering atria as a substitute of being pumped out usually. This clot can break away and journey to the mind.

Rhythm management includes both medication or a process:

Antiarrhythmics. These medicines could be taken as wanted to cease an episode. Or you possibly can take them every single day to stop future atrial flutter.

Electrical cardioversion. That is an outpatient process the place giant electrode patches are positioned in your chest and again. Vitality is shipped via these patches as a shock that’s synchronized along with your heartbeat. In lots of circumstances, this restores regular rhythm. That is sometimes performed with IV sedation in order that the shock shouldn’t be felt. Typically your healthcare supplier could begin you on an antiarrhythmic medication across the time of the cardioversion. This helps preserve a standard rhythm for an extended time frame after cardioversion. Or it could assist the cardioversion to be successful.

Cardiac ablation. This can be a nonsurgical, catheter-based process that may usually remedy atrial flutter. It includes threading wires via a vein in your leg to the guts. Both warmth vitality or chilly vitality is used to destroy the irregular circuit.

The success charge of every remedy varies. Focus on this along with your healthcare supplier.

What are potential issues of atrial flutter?

Though atrial flutter is normally not life-threatening at first, it does restrict how properly your coronary heart pumps blood. This may trigger a clot to kind in your coronary heart. If the clot breaks free, it might result in a stroke.

Over time, atrial flutter can weaken your coronary heart muscle. This may result in coronary heart failure. Atrial flutter is usually linked to an analogous coronary heart rhythm referred to as atrial fibrillation (AFib). AFib is the commonest kind of arrhythmia.

Can atrial flutter be prevented?

Prevention of atrial flutter focuses on controlling or stopping the danger elements.

Keep at a wholesome weight.

Drink alcohol solely carefully, if in any respect.

Cease tobacco use.

Management hypertension and diabetes.

When ought to I name my healthcare supplier?

Though most frequently not instantly life-threatening, issues of atrial flutter could be critical if left untreated. See your healthcare supplier when you discover any of the potential signs of atrial flutter.

Key factors about atrial flutter

Atrial flutter is a standard kind of coronary heart arrhythmia.

You could have no signs.

If current, signs could embrace a noticeable quick, regular or irregular pulse, shortness of breath, dizziness, hassle with regular actions or train, a sense that your coronary heart is pounding, or tightness in your chest.

Medicines can be found to assist management your coronary heart charge, preserve regular coronary heart rhythm, and scale back stroke danger.

A process referred to as catheter ablation can remedy atrial flutter.

Issues from atrial flutter could be life-threatening if the situation shouldn’t be handled

Subsequent steps

Ideas that can assist you get essentially the most from a go to to your healthcare supplier:

Know the explanation on your go to and what you wish to occur.

Earlier than your go to, write down questions you need answered.

Deliver somebody with you that can assist you ask questions and bear in mind what your supplier tells you.

On the go to, write down the title of a brand new analysis, and any new medicines, remedies, or checks. Additionally write down any new directions your supplier offers you.

Know why a brand new medication or remedy is prescribed, and the way it will assist you to. Additionally know what the unwanted effects are.

Ask in case your situation could be handled in different methods.

Know why a check or process is advisable and what the outcomes might imply.

Know what to anticipate if you don’t take the medication or have the check or process.

In case you have a follow-up appointment, write down the date, time, and goal for that go to.

Know how one can contact your healthcare supplier when you have questions.