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Atrial Fibrillation and Atrial Flutter

By

L. Brent Mitchell

, MD, Libin Cardiovascular Institute of Alberta, University of Calgary

Reviewed/Revised Jan 2023
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Atrial fibrillation and atrial flutter are very fast electrical discharge patterns that make the atria (upper chambers of the heart) contract very rapidly, with some of the electrical impulses reaching the ventricles and sometimes causing them to contract faster and less efficiently than normal.

  • These disorders often result from conditions that cause the atria to enlarge.

  • Symptoms depend on how fast the ventricles contract and may include palpitations, weakness, dizziness or light-headedness, shortness of breath, and chest pain.

  • Electrocardiography (ECG) confirms the diagnosis.

  • Treatment includes drugs to slow the ventricles’ contractions and sometimes drugs or electrical shocks (cardioversion) to restore normal heart rhythm.

Atrial fibrillation and atrial flutter are more common among older people and people who have a heart disorder. Atrial fibrillation is much more common than atrial flutter. Many people with atrial flutter also have episodes of atrial fibrillation. Atrial fibrillation and atrial flutter may come and go or be sustained.

The Conduction System
VIDEO

Atrial fibrillation

During atrial fibrillation, electrical impulses are triggered from many areas in and around the atria rather than just one area (the sinoatrial node—see figure ). The resulting electrical activity is chaotic rather than organized and thus, the atrial walls quiver rather than contract. Because the atria do not contract normally, they do not help pump blood into the ventricles. When the atria do not help pump blood to the ventricles, the maximum amount of blood that the heart pumps is reduced by about 10%. This slightly lower maximum output is usually not a problem except in people who have heart disease, particularly when they exert themselves.

Only some of the chaotic electrical impulses are conducted through the atrioventricular node to the ventricles. Thus, the ventricles beat irregularly. For most people who are not being treated for atrial fibrillation, the impulses are conducted to the ventricles at a faster-than-normal rate (often 140 to 160 times per minute, compared to the normal heart rate of about 60 to 100 beats per minute). Even faster rates occur during exercise.

Atrial Fibrillation
VIDEO

Atrial flutter

During atrial flutter, unlike in atrial fibrillation, electrical activity in the atria is coordinated. Thus, the atria do contract, but at a very rapid rate (250 to 350 times per minute). This rate is too fast to allow every impulse to be conducted through the atrioventricular node to the ventricles. For most people who are not being treated, every second atrial impulse gets to the ventricules, resulting in a ventricular rate of about 150 beats per minute.

ECG: Reading the Waves

ECG: Reading the Waves

An electrocardiogram (ECG) represents the electrical current moving through the heart during a heartbeat. The current's movement is divided into parts, and each part is given an alphabetic designation in the ECG.

Each heartbeat begins with an impulse from the heart's pacemaker (sinus or sinoatrial node). This impulse activates the upper chambers of the heart (atria). The P wave represents activation of the atria.

Next, the electrical current flows down to the lower chambers of the heart (ventricles). The QRS complex represents activation of the ventricles.

The ventricles must then undergo an electrical change to get ready for the next heart beat. This electrical activity is called the recovery wave, which is represented by the T wave.

Many kinds of abnormalities can often be seen on an ECG. They include a previous heart attack (myocardial infarction), an abnormal heart rhythm (arrhythmia), an inadequate supply of blood and oxygen to the heart (ischemia), and excessive thickening (hypertrophy) of the heart's muscular walls.

Certain abnormalities seen on an ECG can also suggest bulges (aneurysms) that develop in weaker areas of the heart's walls. Aneurysms may result from a heart attack. If the rhythm is abnormal (too fast, too slow, or irregular), the ECG may also indicate where in the heart the abnormal rhythm starts. Such information helps doctors begin to determine the cause.

Atrial Flutter

Atrial flutter is a regular rhythm with characteristic "flutter" waves in a sawtooth pattern.

Atrial Flutter

Causes of Atrial Fibrillation and Atrial Flutter

Atrial fibrillation or atrial flutter may occur even when there is no other heart disorder. More often, these arrhythmias are caused by such conditions as

Heart valve disorders and high blood pressure cause the atria to enlarge, making atrial fibrillation or atrial flutter more likely.

Complications

The main complications include the following:

  • Blood clots in the atria

  • Rapid heart rate, causing decreased heart output

In atrial fibrillation or atrial flutter, the atria do not empty completely into the ventricles with each beat. Over time, some blood inside the atria may stagnate, and blood clots may form. Pieces of the clot may break off, often shortly after atrial fibrillation converts back to normal rhythm—whether spontaneously or because of treatment. These pieces of clot may pass into the left ventricle, travel through the bloodstream (becoming emboli), and block a smaller artery. If pieces of a clot block an artery in the brain, a stroke Overview of Stroke A stroke occurs when an artery to the brain becomes blocked or ruptures, resulting in death of an area of brain tissue due to loss of its blood supply (cerebral infarction). Symptoms occur suddenly... read more results. Rarely, a stroke is the first sign of atrial fibrillation or atrial flutter.

When atrial fibrillation or atrial flutter causes the heart to beat too rapidly, the ventricles do not have enough time to fill completely with blood. Because they do not fill completely, the amount of blood pumped by the heart decreases. This decrease may cause the blood pressure to fall, and heart failure Heart Failure (HF) Heart failure is a disorder in which the heart is unable to keep up with the demands of the body, leading to reduced blood flow, back-up (congestion) of blood in the veins and lungs, and/or... read more Heart Failure (HF) may occur.

Did You Know...

  • Because blood can pool inside the heart's atria and form clots, which can then travel from the heart to the brain, atrial fibrillation is a strong risk factor for stroke.

Symptoms of Atrial Fibrillation and Atrial Flutter

Symptoms of atrial fibrillation or atrial flutter depend largely on how fast the ventricles beat. When the ventricular rate is normal or only slightly increased (less than about 120 beats per minute), people usually have no symptoms. Higher rates cause unpleasant awareness of heart beats (palpitations Palpitations Palpitations are the awareness of heartbeats. The sensation may feel like pounding, fluttering, racing, or skipping beats. Other symptoms—for example, chest discomfort or shortness of breath—may... read more ), shortness of breath,or chest pain.

In people with atrial fibrillation, the pulse is usually rapid and is always irregular. In people with atrial flutter, the pulse is usually rapid and can be regular or irregular.

The reduced pumping ability of the heart may cause weakness, faintness, and shortness of breath. When the ventricular rate is very fast, some people, especially older people and those with heart disorders, develop heart failure or chest pain. Very rarely, such people may develop shock Shock Shock is a life-threatening condition in which blood flow to the organs is low, decreasing delivery of oxygen and thus causing organ damage and sometimes death. Blood pressure is usually low... read more (very low blood pressure).

Diagnosis of Atrial Fibrillation and Atrial Flutter

Treatment of Atrial Fibrillation and Atrial Flutter

  • Slowing the heart rate

  • Anticoagulants

  • Restoring normal heart rhythm

  • Ablation

Treatment of atrial fibrillation or atrial flutter is designed to control the rate at which the ventricles contract, to restore the normal rhythm of the heart, and to treat the disorder causing the arrhythmia. Drugs to prevent the formation of blood clots and emboli (anticoagulants or aspirin) are usually given.

Treatment of the underlying disorder is important but does not always alleviate atrial arrhythmias. However, treatment of an overactive thyroid gland or surgery to correct a heart valve disorder or a birth defect of the heart may help.

Slowing the heart rate

Usually, the first step in treating atrial fibrillation or atrial flutter is to slow the beating of the ventricles so that the heart pumps blood more efficiently. Usually, drugs can slow the ventricle. Often, the first drug tried is a calcium channel blocker, such as diltiazem or verapamil, which may slow the conduction of impulses to the ventricles (see table ). A beta-blocker, such as propranolol or atenolol, may be used. For people who have heart failure, digoxin may be used.

Restoring normal heart rhythm

Atrial fibrillation or atrial flutter may spontaneously convert to a normal rhythm. In some people, these arrhythmias must be actively converted to a normal rhythm (cardioversion Cardioversion-Defibrillation There are many causes of abnormal heart rhythms (arrhythmias). Some arrhythmias are harmless and do not need treatment. Sometimes arrhythmias stop on their own or with changes in lifestyle,... read more Cardioversion-Defibrillation ). Such people include those in whom the atrial fibrillation or atrial flutter causes heart failure or other symptoms of low heart output.

Before restoring normal rhythm, because there is a risk that a blood clot will break off and cause a stroke during conversion, measures must be taken to prevent blood clots.

If the atrial fibrillation or atrial flutter has been present for more than 48 hours, doctors give an anticoagulant, such as warfarin, for 3 to 4 weeks before attempting conversion. Alternatively, doctors can give a short-acting anticoagulant, such as heparin, and do echocardiography. If echocardiography does not show a clot in the heart, the person can undergo conversion immediately. If the rhythm has clearly been present less than 48 hours, people do not need an anticoagulant before conversion. However, most people need an anticoagulant for at least 4 weeks after conversion.

Methods of conversion include

  • Electrical shock (synchronized cardioversion)

  • Drugs

An electrical shock to the heart is the most effective approach. The electrical shock is synchronized to be given only at a certain point in the heart's electrical activity (synchronized cardioversion Cardioversion-Defibrillation There are many causes of abnormal heart rhythms (arrhythmias). Some arrhythmias are harmless and do not need treatment. Sometimes arrhythmias stop on their own or with changes in lifestyle,... read more Cardioversion-Defibrillation ) so that it does not cause ventricular fibrillation. Cardioversion is effective in 75 to 90% of people.

Certain antiarrhythmic drugs (most commonly, amiodarone, flecainide, procainamide, propafenone, or sotalol—see table ) also may restore a normal rhythm. However, these drugs are effective in only about 50 to 60% of people and often cause side effects.

Conversion to a normal rhythm by any means becomes less likely the longer the arrhythmia has been present (especially after 6 months or more), the larger the atria become, and the more severe the underlying heart disorder becomes. When conversion is successful, the risk of recurrence is high, even if people are taking a drug to prevent recurrence (typically one of the same drugs used to convert the arrhythmia to a normal rhythm).

Ablation procedures

Rarely, when all other treatments of atrial fibrillation are ineffective, the atrioventricular node can be destroyed by an ablation procedure Destroying Abnormal Heart Tissue (Ablation) There are many causes of abnormal heart rhythms (arrhythmias). Some arrhythmias are harmless and do not need treatment. Sometimes arrhythmias stop on their own or with changes in lifestyle,... read more . Ablation is a process to kill a specific area of abnormal tissue using energy from radiofrequency waves, lasers, or electrical current, or by applying very cold temperatures. These are applied using a catheter inserted into the heart.

By destroying the AV node, this ablation procedure completely stops conduction from the atria to the ventricles. Thus, although the atria continue to fibrillate, the ventricular rate slows down. However, a permanent artificial pacemaker Artificial Pacemakers There are many causes of abnormal heart rhythms (arrhythmias). Some arrhythmias are harmless and do not need treatment. Sometimes arrhythmias stop on their own or with changes in lifestyle,... read more Artificial Pacemakers is required to activate the ventricles afterward.

Another type of ablation procedure for atrial fibrillation destroys atrial tissue near the pulmonary veins (pulmonary vein isolation). Pulmonary vein isolation spares the atrioventricular node and can stop the atrial fibrillation but is less often successful (60 to 80%), and the risk of serious complications is significant (1 to 5%). Accordingly, this procedure is often reserved for the best candidates (such as, younger people who have no significant heart disease like a heart valve disorder, people without other options such as those with atrial fibrillation that does not respond to drug therapy, or people with heart failure Heart Failure (HF) Heart failure is a disorder in which the heart is unable to keep up with the demands of the body, leading to reduced blood flow, back-up (congestion) of blood in the veins and lungs, and/or... read more Heart Failure (HF) .

For people who have atrial flutter, ablation may be used to interrupt the flutter circuit in the atrium and permanently re-establish normal rhythm. This procedure is successful in about 90% of people.

Preventing blood clots

Measures to prevent blood clots (and thus prevent stroke Overview of Stroke A stroke occurs when an artery to the brain becomes blocked or ruptures, resulting in death of an area of brain tissue due to loss of its blood supply (cerebral infarction). Symptoms occur suddenly... read more ) are necessary when atrial fibrillation or atrial flutter is converted back to normal rhythm. Most people also usually need such measures during long-term treatment. Doctors typically give an anticoagulant Anticoagulation Pulmonary embolism is the blocking of an artery of the lung (pulmonary artery) by a collection of solid material brought through the bloodstream (embolus)—usually a blood clot (thrombus) or... read more such as warfarin, dabigatran, or a clotting factor Xa inhibitor (rivaroxaban, apixaban, or edoxaban). People who cannot be given an anticoagulant may be given aspirin, which also can help prevent stroke, but aspirin is not as effective as warfarin.

Otherwise healthy people who had only one episode of atrial fibrillation that converted to normal rhythm (spontaneously or with treatment) need anticoagulant treatment for only 4 weeks. People who had several episodes of atrial fibrillation or atrial flutter or who remain in such rhythms despite treatment should take a drug to prevent blood clots indefinitely.

Doctors use warfarin or other anticoagulants for people who have one or more risk factors for developing stroke. Such risk factors include

  • Age 65 years or older

  • High blood pressure

  • Diabetes

  • Heart failure

  • A previous stroke or transient ischemic attack

  • Disease affecting the blood vessels

  • Being female

Some people without those risk factors are given aspirin, and some are not given any treatment to prevent strokes.

Even after atrial fibrillation or atrial flutter converts to normal rhythm, doctors usually continue anticoagulant treatment, often for the remainder of the person’s life. This anticoagulant treatment is needed because the arrhythmia may come back without the person being aware of it. Dangerous blood clots can form during these episodes.

More Information

The following English-language resource may be useful. Please note that THE MANUAL is not responsible for the content of this resource.

Drugs Mentioned In This Article

Generic Name Select Brand Names
Anacin Adult Low Strength, Aspergum, Aspir-Low, Aspirtab , Aspir-Trin , Bayer Advanced Aspirin, Bayer Aspirin, Bayer Aspirin Extra Strength, Bayer Aspirin Plus, Bayer Aspirin Regimen, Bayer Children's Aspirin, Bayer Extra Strength, Bayer Extra Strength Plus, Bayer Genuine Aspirin, Bayer Low Dose Aspirin Regimen, Bayer Womens Aspirin , BeneHealth Aspirin, Bufferin, Bufferin Extra Strength, Bufferin Low Dose, DURLAZA, Easprin , Ecotrin, Ecotrin Low Strength, Genacote, Halfprin, MiniPrin, St. Joseph Adult Low Strength, St. Joseph Aspirin, VAZALORE, Zero Order Release Aspirin, ZORprin
Cardizem, Cardizem CD, Cardizem LA, Cardizem SR, Cartia XT , Dilacor XR, Dilt-CD , Diltia XT, Diltzac, Matzim LA, Taztia XT, TIADYLT ER, Tiamate, Tiazac
Calan, Calan SR, Covera-HS, Isoptin, Isoptin SR, Verelan, Verelan PM
HEMANGEOL, Inderal, Inderal LA, Inderal XL, InnoPran XL
Tenormin
Digitek , Lanoxicaps, Lanoxin, Lanoxin Pediatric
Coumadin, Jantoven
Hepflush-10 , Hep-Lock, Hep-Lock U/P, Monoject Prefill Advanced Heparin Lock Flush, SASH Normal Saline and Heparin
Cordarone, Nexterone, Pacerone
Tambocor
Procanbid, Pronestyl, Pronestyl-SR
Rythmol, Rythmol SR
BETAPACE, BETAPACE AF, Sorine , SOTYLIZE
Pradaxa
Xarelto, Xarelto Granules, Xarelto Starter Pack
Eliquis
Savaysa
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