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Tachycardia: Difference between revisions
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===Atrial Fibrillation=== | ===Atrial Fibrillation=== | ||
The most | ====Pathophysiology:==== | ||
The pathophysiology of atrial fibrillation is complex and incompletely understood. | |||
====Clinical diagnosis:==== | |||
Atrial fibrillation is the most common supraventricular arrhythmia in Western society. It is characterized by the absence of clear P-waves on the surface ECG and an irregular ventricular ventricular rate. On physical examination an irregular pulse can be felt, however this is not diagnostic of atrial fibrillation as other causes can cause an irregular pulse (atrial or ventricular extra systoles). The cardiac output is reduced due to lack of atrial kick. Furthermore due to the higher ventricular rate the heart has not enough time to completely fill with blood. Atrial fibrillation is classified according to the clinical presentation of atrial fibrillation: | |||
* Paroxysmal atrial fibrillation: Episodes atrial fibrillation lasting shorter than 7 days and terminating spontaneously | |||
* Persistent atrial fibrillation: Episodes of atrial fibrillation not terminating spontaneously or lasting longer than 7 days | |||
* Long standing persistent atrial fibrillation: Persistent atrial fibrillation for more than one year. | |||
* Permanent atrial fibrillation: Accepted atrial fibrillation, no strategies of rhythm control are pursued. | |||
====Management:==== | |||
Atrial fibrillation can be managed with anti-arrhythmic medication or more invasive treatment strategies. Independent of the treatment strategy, proper anti-coagulation is important and necessary in patients with risk factors. | |||
Rate control | |||
Rhythm control | |||
Invasive treatment | |||
Catheter ablation | |||
Surgical treatment | |||
Anticoagluation treatment | |||
==AV node arrhythmias== | ==AV node arrhythmias== | ||