Atrial Flutter and Fibrillation in the Emergency Setting

• Published in: The Arrhythmic Patient in the Emergency Department pp. 61 - 87
• Main Authors: Dametto, Ermanno, Cinquetti, Martino, Del Bianco, Federica, Cassin, Matteo
• Format: Book Chapter
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland Springer International Publishing AG 2016; Springer; Springer International Publishing
• Subjects: Accident & emergency medicine; Atrial Fibrillation; Atrial Fibrillation Patient; Atrial Flutter; Cardiothoracic surgery; Cardiovascular medicine; Recurrent Atrial Fibrillation; Rhythm Control
• ISBN: 3319243268; 9783319243269
• DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-24328-3_5

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a supraventricular arrhythmia characterised by uncoordinated atrial activation which determines on the electrocardiogram (ECG) the presence of fibrillatory waves of different timing, shape and amplitude, associated with an irregular and frequently rapid ventricular response (Fig. 5.1). It is the most frequent arrhythmia with a prevalence of 1.5–2 % in the general population [1], increasing with age and is the most frequent cause of arrhythmic access to the emergency department (ED), 1.5 % in “FIRE” and 3.1 % in “HERMES-AF” registries [2, 3] and hospitalisation (3.3 % in “FIRE” registry [2]).