Atrial flutter

Atrial flutter is a supraventricular tachycardia and is generally managed similarly as atrial fibrillation, and in many cases it progresses to Afib. It requires anticoagulation and either rate or rhythm control. There are two types:

• Typical atrial flutter
• Atypical atrial flutter

On the ECG, P-waves are replaced by F-waves which have a frequency of about 300/minute. There is a fixed pattern of atrial:ventricular conduction (P-waves:QRS-complexes), usually 2:1 or 4:1.

Typical atrial flutter can be treated effectively with ablation because it’s caused by a macro-reentry circuit along the tricuspid anulus, which can be ablated.