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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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