Atrial fibrillation e-chart: Quick reference guide

Atrial fibrillation e-chart - Quick reference guide

Atrial fibrillation. It is a tachyarrhythmia which, from a hemodynamic point of view, results in loss of coordinated, atrial contraction that is substituted for sporadic, vermicular contractions. These are called fibrillatory (f) waves and take the place of P waves. This tachyarrhythmia can be paroxysmal, acute (the episode takes place within 24 to 48 hours), or chronic. The frequency of these waves often exceeds rates of 400 beats/min. Consequently, the atrium fails to be empty and it therefore remains functionally in diastole. As regards pathogenesis of atrial fibrillation, we could find a reentry of atrial stimuli through multiple circuits that would find both refractory and excitable areas. This uncoordinated heart activity is called delirium cordis. The ventricle responds with frequent, irregular waves. Although it remains under atrial control, and thus the QRS complexes are supraventricular, only a number of them ranging from 100 to 200 go through the ventricle. Atrial fibrillation doubles the total number of deaths from cardiovascular causes.

Normal electrocardiogram
Comorbidity of atrial fibrillation
Types of atrial fibrillation
Pathophysiological conditions favoring atrial fibrillation
Frequent complications of atrial fibrillation
Thrombi in the left atrium
Mitral stenosis
Possible sites of embolic thrombi
Morbidity