Scribd
Upload
71 views2 pages

Atrial Fibrillation: Recognition & ACLS Treatment

Atrial fibrillation is caused by disorganized electrical impulses in the atria that overwhelm the normal impulses from the SA node. This causes the atria to quiver instead of contract in a coordinated way, sending irregular impulses to the ventricles. It becomes problematic when it causes a rapid heart rate over 100 bpm, reducing cardiac output and causing symptoms like palpitations, shortness of breath, hypotension, and edema. On an ECG, atrial fibrillation is identified by the absence of P waves and an irregular heart rate. For ACLS purposes, it requires treatment if it causes hemodynamic instability or serious symptoms, with immediate cardioversion for unstable tachycard

Uploaded by

srimatsimhasaneshwar
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
71 views2 pages

Atrial Fibrillation: Recognition & ACLS Treatment

Atrial fibrillation is caused by disorganized electrical impulses in the atria that overwhelm the normal impulses from the SA node. This causes the atria to quiver instead of contract in a coordinated way, sending irregular impulses to the ventricles. It becomes problematic when it causes a rapid heart rate over 100 bpm, reducing cardiac output and causing symptoms like palpitations, shortness of breath, hypotension, and edema. On an ECG, atrial fibrillation is identified by the absence of P waves and an irregular heart rate. For ACLS purposes, it requires treatment if it causes hemodynamic instability or serious symptoms, with immediate cardioversion for unstable tachycard

Uploaded by

srimatsimhasaneshwar
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

Atrial Fibrillation

The most common cardiac arrhythmia, atrial fibrillation, occurs when the normal
electrical impulses that are generated by the SA node are overwhelmed by disorganized
electrical impulses in the atria.

These disorganized impulses cause the muscles of the upper chambers of the heart to
quiver (fibrillate) and this leads to the conduction of irregular impulses to the ventricles.

For ACLS, atrial fibrillation becomes a problem when the fibrillation produces a rapid
heart rate which reduces cardiac output and causes symptoms or an unstable condition.

When atrial fibrillation occurs with a (RVR) rapid ventricular rate (rate > 100 beats/min),
this is called a tachyarrhythmia. This tachyarrhythmia may or may not produce
symptoms. Significant symptoms that occur are due to a reduction in cardiac output.

The following is a list of the most common symptoms.

palpitations or chest discomfort


shortness of air and possibly respiratory distress
hypotension, light-headedness and possibly loss of consciousness
peripheral edema, jugular vein distention, and possibly pulmonary edema
For the purpose of ACLS, it is important to be able to recognize atrial fibrillation when the
patient is symptomatic. On an ECG monitor, there are two major characteristics that will
help you identify atrial fibrillation.

1. No p-waves before the QRS on the ECG. This is because there are no
coordinated atrial contractions.
2. The heart rate will be irregular. Irregular impulses that the ventricles are
receiving cause the irregular heart rate.
When the heart rate is extremely rapid, it may be difficult to determine if the rate is
irregular, and the absence of p-waves will be the best indicator of atrial fibrillation.

ACLS Treatments:
For the purposes of ACLS atrial fibrillation is treated when the
arrhythmia/tachyarrhythmia produces hemodynamic instability and serious signs and
symptoms.

For the patient with unstable tachycardia due to a tachyarrhythmia, immediate


cardioversion is recommended. Drugs are not used to manage unstable tachycardia.

Cardioversion of stable atrial fibrillation should be performed with caution if the


arrhythmia is more than 48 hours old and no anticoagulant therapy has been initiated
due to the risk of emboli that can cause MI and stroke.
Below is a short video which will help you quickly identify atrial fibrillation on a monitor

You might also like