Abstract
Atrial flutter (AFl), a common supraventricular tachyarrhythmia (SVT), results in the atria beating up to five times faster than normal, i.e., 240 to 400 beats per minute [1]. A 2:1 relation between atrial and ventricular contractions is typically observed by electrocardiogram (ECG) [2], and under these conditions of accelerated and mismatched contractile activity of the heart chambers there is ineffective pumping of blood to the systemic circulation. While AFl is usually a non life-threatening arrhythmia, it can be a chronic, life-long condition that is episodic and transient. It can cause hypotension, impair cardiac output, exacerbate pulmonary congestion, initiate myocardial ischemia, and in rare cases may lead to a tachycardia-mediated cardiomyopathy [2]. Symptoms commonly experienced by individuals with AFl include palpitations, dizziness, chest tightness, shortness of breath, and fatigue. However, some individuals are asymptomatic.
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Andrew, P., Montenero, A.S. (2007). Cryocatheter Ablation for Atrial Flutter. In: Gulizia, M.M. (eds) Current News in Cardiology. Springer, Milano. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-88-470-0636-2_5
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-88-470-0636-2_5
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