Tachycardia: Difference between revisions

1,178 bytes added ,  29 December 2011
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===Atrial Tachycardia===
===Atrial Tachycardia===
====Pathophysiology:====
Atrial tachycardia is a tachycardia resulting from fast firing in an ectopic focus in the atria. It has a frequency of above the 100bpm. In some patients the tachycardia has multiple foci. This results in different P-wave morphologies on the ECG. The result of firing can be due to all mechanisms of arrhythmias and is dependent on the causes of the atrial tachycardia.
====Clinical diagnosis:====
Atrial tachycardias have a wide clinical presentation. Complaints of palpitation and a fast regular heart rate are common. On the ECG an atrial tachycardia can be detected through the P-wave morphology. The P-wave has an other morpholgy depending on the foci of the atrial tachycardia. A ECG in resting condition can help distinguish different morphologies. When administrating adenosine the AV-conduction blocks and firing from the atrium continues, thereby clearly identifying the atrial source of the tachycardia.
====Management:====
Atrial tachycardias can be treated with anti-arrhythmic medication, for instance with beta-blockers. If medication does not help, catheter ablation might locate the arrhythmia and ablate the source of repeated firing.


===Atrial Flutter===
===Atrial Flutter===
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