Quote from al7139
It's hard to describe without pictures, but here goes:
A-Fib is ALWAYS an irregular rhythm, sometimes decribed as "Irregularly irregular". Controlled A-Fib is a rate of 100 or less. Uncontrolled A-Fib is a rate greater than 100. When you look at an ECG, there are no P waves, and the PRI cannot be measured. If the pt is symptomatic, they are usually cardioverted. If they are asymptomatic, then they are treated with Dilitiazem, Amiodarone, and/ or a beta blocker. THey are always on anticoagulants to prevent clots in the atria.
A-Flutter is a regular rhythm and rate is usually under 100. There is a classic "sawtooth" pattern showing on ECG. Usually a 2:1 or 3:1 ratio with the QRS complex. There are no P waves and the PRI is not measurable.
Treatment is determined by symptoms. They may be cardioverted, but if asymptomatic, they may not be treated for this.
Hope this helps!
Actually, just a quick clarification regarding 2 points...
1) 'Irregulary irregular' means a rhythm that is 'irregular' at intervals...rather than constantly irregular. Man, is that confusing or what
. The term is oftened used when assessing a pulse...but can be used in other ways.
2)A-flutter can have a 'variable block', in which case it will be irregular (or even irregularly irregular
) Can be just as 'irregular' as a-fib.
The thing about a-fib and a-flutter is that they're very similar. A-flutter is considered a more 'organized' rhythm because you can see an ecg baseline 'saw-tooth' pattern (in classic/text-book examples) which is basically the atria firing/contracting/fluttering...and why many times flutter can be 'regular'. (*Sometimes a 2:1 flutter can resemble a sinus rhythm...the flutter-waves resemble a p-wave and t-wave, or a p-wave and normal t-wave because the 2nd flutter wave is buried in the t-wave...just to make things a bit more confusing*)
In a-fib the ecg baseline is usually 'static-like' which (in a classic-text book way) looks wavy/jagged/fibrillating. There is no pattern to it (which is why it's considered less 'organized' than flutter. (*sometimes the fibrillating baseline is so fine it will appear flat...just to make things a bit more confusing*)
They're both atrial dysrhythmias, and are basically treated the same (rate control, anti-coagulation, and sometimes cardioversion)