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Asymptomatic
Chest pain, palpitation, SOB,
Pathophysiology
faintness
Chaotic, irregular atrial rhythm at
Signs
300600 bpm
AV node responds intermittently →
Irregularly irregular pulse
irregular ventricular rhythm → CO↓
Pulse deficit
by 1020%
S1 of variable intensity
Incidence ↑ with age (10%>age 80)
Signs of LVF
Aetiology Loss of atrial contraction → No “a”
wave in JVP, no S4
HF, HTN, IHD (22% MI patients), MS/R
PE, Pneumonia
Investigations
Hyperthyroidism, ↓K+, ↓Mg2+
Caffeine, alcohol, postop ECG – absent P waves, irregularly
Rare: cardiomyopathy, constrictive irregular, narrow QRS; wide QRS due
pericarditis, sick sinus syndrome, to aberrancy (Ashman phenomenon)
lung cancer, endocarditis, Blood tests – U&E, TSH, TT/I, CKMB
haemochromatosis, sarcoid
Echo – LA enlargement, MV pathology,
poor LV function
Classification
Acute AF management (RACE)
Lone AF – no cause found; <age 60
Nonvalvular – not due to valvular
If adverse signs (shock, chest pain,
pathology, prosthetic valve, valve
ECG ∆, syncope, HF) → (ABCDE +
repairAetiology
senior → DC cardioversion
(synchronised shock; start 120150
HF, HTN, IHD (22% MI patients), MS/R
J) ± amiodarone if unsuccessful)
PE, Pneumonia
If stable + AF started <48hrs →
Hyperthyroidism, ↓K+, ↓Mg2+ rhythm control (DC CV or flecainide
Caffeine, alcohol, postop [CI: structural heart disease, IHD]
Rare: cardiomyopathy, constrictive or amiodarone); if CV delayed start
pericarditis, sick sinus syndrome, heparin
lung cancer, endocarditis, If stable + >48hrs → rate control
haemochromatosis, sarcoid (e.g. bisoprolol, diltiazem, B
blockers, verapamil); if rhythm
Classification control chosen, patient must be
anticoagulated for 3wk prior, 4wk
Lone AF – no cause found; <age 60 post
Nonvalvular – not due to valvular Correct E imbalance (K, Mg, Ca);
pathology, prosthetic valve, valve etiology; consider anticoagulation
repair
Paroxysmal – episodes that terminate Chronic AF management
spontaneously
Persistent – sustain >7day or Main goals: rate control, anticoag
terminate only with cardioversion Rhythm control appropriate if
Permanent/chronic – continuous with symptomatic or CCF, younger, 1st
unresponsive to cardioversion or presentation with lone AF, AF from
cardioversion not recommended corrected precipitant (U&E)
Recurrent – ?2episodes Rate control – Bblocker or rate
Secondary – due to underlying limiting Ca2+ blocker 1st line → if
condition (MI, surgery, pulmonary, fail, add digoxin (monotherapy only
hyperthyroidism) in sedentary patients
Associated with thromboembolic Paroxysmal – episodes that terminate
events (assess stroke risk by CHADS2 spontaneously
score in nonvalvular AF → if 0/1 → Persistent – sustain >7day or
CHAD2DS2VASc) terminate only with cardioversion
Permanent/chronic – continuous with Loss of atrial contraction → No “a”
unresponsive to cardioversion or wave in JVP, no S4
cardioversion not recommended
Recurrent – ?2episodes
Secondary – due to underlying Investigations
condition (MI, surgery, pulmonary,
hyperthyroidism) ECG – absent P waves, irregularly
Associated with thromboembolic irregular, narrow QRS; wide QRS due
events (assess stroke risk by CHADS2 to aberrancy (Ashman phenomenon)
score in nonvalvular AF → if 0/1 → Blood tests – U&E, TSH, TT/I, CKMB
CHAD2DS2VASc) Echo – LA enlargement, MV pathology,
poor LV function
Symptoms
Acute AF management (RACE)
Asymptomatic
Chest pain, palpitation, SOB, If adverse signs (shock, chest pain,
faintnessAetiology ECG ∆, syncope, HF) → (ABCDE +
senior → DC cardioversion
HF, HTN, IHD (22% MI patients), MS/R (synchronised shock; start 120150
PE, Pneumonia J) ± amiodarone if unsuccessful)
Hyperthyroidism, ↓K+, ↓Mg2+ If stable + AF started <48hrs →
Caffeine, alcohol, postop rhythm control (DC CV or flecainide
Rare: cardiomyopathy, constrictive [CI: structural heart disease, IHD]
pericarditis, sick sinus syndrome, or amiodarone); if CV delayed start
lung cancer, endocarditis, heparin
haemochromatosis, sarcoid If stable + >48hrs → rate control
(e.g. bisoprolol, diltiazem, B
Classification blockers, verapamil); if rhythm
control chosen, patient must be
Lone AF – no cause found; <age 60 anticoagulated for 3wk prior, 4wk
Nonvalvular – not due to valvular post
pathology, prosthetic valve, valve Correct E imbalance (K, Mg, Ca);
repair etiology; consider anticoagulation
Paroxysmal – episodes that terminate
spontaneously Chronic AF management
Persistent – sustain >7day or
terminate only with cardioversion Main goals: rate control, anticoag
Permanent/chronic – continuous with Rhythm control appropriate if
unresponsive to cardioversion or symptomatic or CCF, younger, 1st
cardioversion not recommended presentation with lone AF, AF from
Recurrent – ?2episodes corrected precipitant (U&E)
Secondary – due to underlying Rate control – Bblocker or rate
condition (MI, surgery, pulmonary, limiting Ca2+ blocker 1st line → if
hyperthyroidism) fail, add digoxin (monotherapy only
in sedentary patients
Associated with thromboembolic
Signs
events (assess stroke risk by CHADS2
score in nonvalvular AF → if 0/1 →
CHAD2DS2VASc) Irregularly irregular pulse
Pulse deficit
Symptoms S1 of variable intensity
Signs of LVF
Asymptomatic Loss of atrial contraction → No “a”
Chest pain, palpitation, SOB, wave in JVP, no S4
faintness
Signs Investigations
Irregularly irregular pulse ECG – absent P waves, irregularly
Pulse deficit irregular, narrow QRS; wide QRS due
S1 of variable intensity to aberrancy (Ashman phenomenon)
Signs of LVF Blood tests – U&E, TSH, TT/I, CKMB
Echo – LA enlargement, MV pathology,
poor LV function
Acute AF management (RACE)
If adverse signs (shock, chest pain,
ECG ∆, syncope, HF) → (ABCDE +
senior → DC cardioversion
(synchronised shock; start 120150
J) ± amiodarone if unsuccessful)
If stable + AF started <48hrs →
rhythm control (DC CV or flecainide
[CI: structural heart disease, IHD]
or amiodarone); if CV delayed start
heparin
If stable + >48hrs → rate control
(e.g. bisoprolol, diltiazem, B
blockers, verapamil); if rhythm
control chosen, patient must be
anticoagulated for 3wk prior, 4wk
post
Correct E imbalance (K, Mg, Ca);
etiology; consider anticoagulation
Chronic AF management
Main goals: rate control, anticoag
Rhythm control appropriate if
symptomatic or CCF, younger, 1st
presentation with lone AF, AF from
corrected precipitant (U&E)
Rate control – Bblocker or rate
limiting Ca2+ blocker 1st line → if
fail, add digoxin (monotherapy only
in sedentary patients)