Atrial flutter

Atrial flutter
Well-organized but overly rapid contractions of the atrium of the heart (usually at a rate of 250-350 contractions per minute). Flutter refers to a rapid vibration or pulsation. The difference between flutter and fibrillation is that flutter is well organized while fibrillation is not. Atrial flutter is a serious and potentially unstable rhythm of the heart.

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atrial flutter n an irregularity of the heartbeat in which the contractions of the atrium exceed in number those of the ventricle called also auricular flutter

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a condition of cardiac arrhythmia in which the atrial contractions are rapid (250 to 350 per minute), but regular. In many instances, a circus movement caused by reentry is probably present. The ventricles are unable to respond to each atrial impulse, so that at least a partial atrioventricular block must develop and the ventricular rate is usually approximately 150 beats per minute.

Atrial flutter with characteristic sawtooth waves (F).


Medical dictionary. 2011.

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