ATRIAL

FIBRILLATION
BY: BRAYDEN MCCLURE
INTRO TO ECG

• What is ECG?
        ECG (Electrocardiography) is the process of producing an electrocardiogram, a recording of the heart's
electrical activity. It is an electrogram of the heart which is a graph of voltage versus time of the electrical activity
of the heart using electrodes placed on the skin.

• How can it identify arrhythmias?

           During an ECG , sensors (electrodes) that can detect the electrical activity of the heart are attached to the
chest and sometimes to the arms or legs. An ECG measures the timing and duration of each electrical phase in the
heartbeat.
WHAT IS ATRIAL FIBRILLATION?

• Atrial fibrillation (A-fib) is an irregular and often very rapid heart rhythm (arrhythmia)
that can lead to blood clots in the heart. A-fib increases the risk of stroke, heart failure
and other heart-related complications.
• During atrial fibrillation, the heart's upper chambers (the atria) beat chaotically and
irregularly — out of sync with the lower chambers (the ventricles) of the heart. For many
people, A-fib may have no symptoms. However, A-fib may cause a fast, pounding
heartbeat (palpitations), shortness of breath or weakness.
CAUSES OF ATRIAL FIBRILLATION

• In atrial fibrillation, the signals in the upper chambers of the heart are chaotic. As a result,
the upper chambers shake (quiver). The AV node is then bombarded with signals trying to
get through to the lower heart chambers (ventricles). This causes a fast and irregular heart
rhythm.
• The heart rate in atrial fibrillation may range from 100 to 175 beats a minute. The normal
range for a heart rate is 60 to 100 beats a minute.
SYMPTOMS OF ATRIAL FIBRILLATION 

Some common symptoms include:

• Heart palpitations - feeling of the heart racing or beating irregularly
• Shortness of breath
• Weakness
• Tiredness
• Reduced ability to be physically active
• Lightheadedness and dizziness
• Confusion
• Chest pain
COMPONENTS OF THE ECG

Each ECG cycles consists of 4 waves: P wave, QRS complex, T wave and ST
segment corresponding to different phases of the heart activities. The P wave represents the
normal atrium (upper heart chambers) depolarization; the QRS complex (one single heart beat)
corresponds to the depolarization of the right and left ventricles (lower heart chambers); the T
wave represents the re-polarization (or recovery) of the ventricles. Finally, the ST segment
marks the time for the ventricles to pump the blood to the lung and body. In normal situations,
it serves as the base line from which to measure the amplitudes of the other waveforms.
WHAT IS A NORMAL ECG TIME-INTERVAL?

A medical condition that disrupts this electrical impulse will display itself as
a P-R interval that is longer than 0.2 seconds due to the increased time it
takes to travel the conducting tissues. The normal P-R interval is between
0.12 and 0.20 seconds. Schematic diagram of normal sinus rhythm for a
human heart as seen on ECG
WHAT CAN YOU EXPECT TO SEE ON THE ECG?

Atrial fibrillation occurs when action potentials fire very rapidly within the
pulmonary veins or atrium in a chaotic manner.
The result is a very fast atrial rate — about 400 to 600 beats per minute.
Because the atrial rate is so fast, and the action potentials produced are of
such low amplitude, P waves will not be seen on the ECG in patients with
atrial fibrillation.
RHYTHM STRIP
ADDITIONAL RHYTHM STRIP
METHODS OF DIAGNOSIS

Some people are unaware that they have atrial fibrillation (A-fib). A-fib may be detected when
a doctor is listening to the heart with a stethoscope during a physical exam for other reasons. 
A doctor may order several tests to diagnose A-fib or exclude other conditions that can cause
similar symptoms. Tests may include:
• Electrocardiogram
• Blood Test
• Chest X-Ray
• Stress Test
TREATMENT

Goals of treatment:
• Reset the heart rhythm
• Control the heart rate
• Prevent blood clots that can lead to stroke

Atrial fibrillation treatment may involve:

• Medications
• Therapy to reset the heart rhythm (cardioversion)
• Surgery or catheter procedures
INVOLVED CARDIAC MEDICATION

Medications used to treat atrial fibrillation include:

• Beta Blockers
• Calcium channel blockers
• Digoxin
• Blood thinners
• Anti-arrhythmic medications
SURGICAL INTERVENTIONS

• Surgical options for atrial fibrillation include disruption of abnormal

conduction pathways in the atria, and obliteration of the left atrial
appendage. Catheter ablation is an option for restoring normal sinus
rhythm in patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation and normal left atrial
size.
SOURCES

• https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/atrial-fibrillation/symptoms-causes/syc-2
0350624
• https://www.cdc.gov/heartdisease/atrial_fibrillation.htm
• https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/16765-atrial-fibrillation-afib
• https://www.healthline.com/health/atrial-fibrillation-how-maze-procedure-works#:~:text=
The%20maze%20procedure%20is%20a%20surgical%20intervention%20used,sinus%20r
hythm%2C%20or%20normal%20rhythm%2C%20of%20the%20heart