what is the treatment of atrial flut

Medication

Procedures

Self-care

Nutrition

What is best treatment for atrial flutter?

Currently, atrial flutter is successfully "cured" by radiofrequency catheter ablation; but treatment to restore atrial fibrillation to sinus rhythm has been the traditional use of medications and external cardioversion.

What is the first line treatment for atrial flutter?

Use of catheter ablation is not only beneficial for treating atrial flutter but also can significantly reduce hospital visits – both inpatient and emergency – and lower the risk for atrial fibrillation, according to research by UC San Francisco.

Which medication is being used to treat the atrial flutter?

Drugs used to treat Atrial FlutterDrug nameRatingRx/OTCGeneric name: esmolol systemic Drug class: cardioselective beta blockers, group II antiarrhythmics For consumers: dosage, interactions, side effects For professionals: Prescribing InformationView information about Sotylize SotylizeRateRx40 more rows

Can atrial flutter be controlled with medication?

When lifestyle changes alone are not enough to control atrial fibrillation (AFib) or atrial flutter, cardiac electrophysiologists at NYU Langone's Heart Rhythm Center may prescribe medication to slow your heart rate, control its rhythm, and prevent a life-threatening stroke.

Should atrial flutter be treated?

Sometimes, atrial flutter goes away by itself and no further action is needed. If it persists, your doctor may pursue any of the following treatments: Treatment of any underlying conditions. Catheter ablation — procedure to destroy the errant electrical pathways; performed together with an electrophysiological study.

What is the most common cause of atrial flutter?

It's caused by an abnormal electrical circuit in the upper chambers of the heart (atria) that makes the atria beat quickly and flutter instead of fully squeezing. It can result in fast heart rates and a heart that doesn't work as well as it should. This increases the risk for stroke and may cause you to feel poorly.

Which beta blocker is best for atrial flutter?

Bisoprolol* or metoprolol succinate are first-choice beta-blockers for patients with atrial fibrillation as they are prescribed once-daily and do not require dose adjustment in patients with renal impairment. Bisoprolol is preferred as it is more cardioselective than metoprolol and may cause more bradycardia.

How do I stop my chest from fluttering?

The following methods can help to reduce palpitations.Perform relaxation techniques. Share on Pinterest Studio Firma/Stocksy. ... Reduce or eliminate stimulant intake. ... Stimulate the vagus nerve. ... Keep electrolytes balanced. ... Keep hydrated. ... Avoid excessive alcohol use. ... Exercise regularly.

Do beta-blockers work for atrial flutter?

Beta blockers are used to control the irregular heart rhythm in people with atrial fibrillation (AF). By slowing the heart rate, the symptoms caused by AF, particularly palpitations and fatigue, are often improved.

Can you live a long life with atrial flutter?

The good news is that although AF is a long-term condition, if managed correctly, you can continue to lead a long and active life. There are a number of steps you can take that will help you manage your condition, lower your risk of stroke and relieve any worries you may have.

Do you need blood thinners for atrial flutter?

​Treatments for atrial flutter To prevent a blood clot from forming in your heart, you may be started on a blood thinner medicine. The most common one is warfarin (Coumadin®). Other blood thinners that work as well as warfarin, have a lower risk of bleeding, and don't need regular blood tests are also available.

How to cure atrial flutter?

Currently, atrial flutter is successfully "cured" by radiofrequency catheter ablation; but treatment to restore atrial fibrillation to sinus rhythm has been the traditional use of medications and external cardioversion.

What is radiofrequency ablation?

A technique pioneered at UCSF, radiofrequency catheter ablation destroys or disrupts parts of the electrical pathways causing the arrhythmias, providing relief for patients who may not have responded well to medications, or who would rather not or can't take medications.

Can you convert atrial fibrillation to normal?

The less time a patient is in atrial fibrillation, the easier it is to cardiovert back to a normal rhythm, but even patients with long-standing chronic atrial fibrillation can be converted successfully to a normal rhythm through internal cardioversion.

What is the treatment for atrial flutter?

Catheter ablation treatment. Two types of catheter ablation are available for the treatment of chronic or recurrent atrial flutter, one curative and one palliative. Appropriate application of radiofrequency energy via an electrode catheter can be used to cure atrial flutter.

When does atrial flutter occur?

It can occur in patients with ostensibly normal atria or with abnormal atria. Atrial flutter occurs commonly in patients in the first week after open heart surgery. Patients with atrial flutter not uncommonly demonstrate sinus bradycardia or other manifestations of sinus node dysfunction.

How to restore sinus rhythm?

When atrial flutter is diagnosed , three options are available to restore sinus rhythm: (1) administer an antiarrhythmic drug; (2) initiate DC cardioversion; or (3) initiate rapid atrial pacing to terminate the atrial flutter (fig 4 ). Selection of acute treatment for atrial flutter with either DC cardioversion, atrial pacing or antiarrhythmic drug therapy will depend on the clinical presentation of the patient and both the clinical availability and ease of using these techniques. Since DC cardioversion requires administration of an anaesthetic agent, this may be undesirable in the patient who presents with atrial flutter having recently eaten or the patient who has severe chronic obstructive lung disease. Such patients are best treated with either antiarrhythmic drug therapy or rapid atrial pacing to terminate the atrial flutter, or with an AV nodal blocking drug to slow the ventricular response rate. When atrial flutter is associated with a situation requiring urgent restoration of sinus rhythm—for example, 1:1 AV conduction or hypotension—prompt DC cardioversion is the treatment of choice. For the patient who develops atrial flutter following open heart surgery, use of the temporary atrial epicardial wire electrodes to perform rapid atrial pacing to restore sinus rhythm is the treatment of choice (fig 4 ).

How long does atrial flutter last?

Atrial flutter typically is paroxysmal, usually lasting seconds to hours, but on occasion lasting longer. Occasionally, it is a persistent rhythm. Atrial flutter as a stable, chronic rhythm is unusual, as it usually reverts either to sinus rhythm or to atrial fibrillation, either spontaneously or as a result of treatment. However, atrial flutter has been reported to be present for up to 20 years or more. It can occur in patients with ostensibly normal atria or with abnormal atria. Atrial flutter occurs commonly in patients in the first week after open heart surgery. Patients with atrial flutter not uncommonly demonstrate sinus bradycardia or other manifestations of sinus node dysfunction. Atrial flutter is also associated with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, mitral or tricuspid valve disease, thyrotoxicosis, and surgical repair of certain congenital cardiac lesions which involve large incisions or suture lines in the atria. 10 It is also associated with enlargement of the atria for any reason, especially the right atrium.

What is the most common atrial tachyarrhythmia?

Treatment of atrial flutter. After atrial fibrillation, atrial flutter is the most important and most common atrial tachyarrhythmia. Although it was first described 80 years ago, techniques for its diagnosis and management have changed little for decades.

What is the INR for atrial fibrillation?

In short, in patients with atrial flutter, daily warfarin treatment to achieve an international normalised ratio (INR) of 2 to 3 is recommended using the same criteria as for atrial fibrillation. Also, the same criteria apply for cardioversion.

Is atrial flutter a long term treatment?

This is among the reasons why this form of therapy is no longer the long term treatment of choice in most patients with atrial flutter. For patients in whom drug treatment is selected, an important measure of efficacy should be the frequency of recurrence of atrial flutter rather than a single recurrent episode.

What are the treatments for atrial flutter?

There are effective treatments for atrial flutter, including medication or procedures designed to scar small areas of heart tissue (ablation).

What causes a heart to beat so fast?

In atrial flutter, your heart's upper chambers (atria) beat too quickly. This causes the heart to beat in a fast, but usually regular, rhythm. Atrial flutter is a type of heart rhythm disorder ( arrhythmia) caused by problems in your heart's electrical system.

Is atrial flutter a disorder?

Atrial flutter is similar to atrial fibrillation, a common disorder that causes the heart to beat in abnormal patterns. People with atrial flutter have a heart rhythm that's more organized and less chaotic than that of atrial fibrillation. Sometimes you may have episodes of both atrial flutter and atrial fibrillation.

What is the best way to relieve pain from atrial flutter?

Your doctor can point you toward a lotion to ease pain or itching. Radiofrequency ablation: This is a type of catheter ablation most often used for atrial flutter. Your doctor puts a thin, flexible tube into a blood vessel in your leg or neck. Then they guide it to your heart.

What are the goals of atrial flutter?

Goals of Atrial Flutter Treatment. The goals are to control the heart rate, restore a normal sinus rhythm, prevent future episodes, and prevent stroke. Control your heart rate: The first treatment goal is to control the ventricular rate.

How does AFIB affect the heart?

About one-third of people who have AFib also have atrial flutter. In atrial flutter, electrical impulses don't travel in a straight line from the top of your heart to the bottom. Instead, they move in a circle inside the upper chambers. As a result, your heart beats too fast, but still in a steady rhythm.

What causes a flutter in the heart?

Heart diseases or problems that can cause atrial flutter include: Ischemia: Lower blood flow to the heart due to coronary heart disease, hardening of the arteries, or a blood clot. Hypertension: High blood pressure. Cardiomyopathy: Disease of the heart muscle. Abnormal heart valves: Especially the mitral valve.

What is the name of the condition where the heart is enlargement?

Conduction problems. Abnormal heart enlargement, called hypertrophy. Problems with levels of chemicals, like potassium and calcium, in your heart tissue. If you don’t have symptoms, your doctor might give you this test if they find signs of atrial flutter when you’re at the doctor's office for something else.

What to do if you have a flutter?

If you've been diagnosed and are being treated for atrial flutter, go immediately to a hospital emergency department if you: Have severe chest pain.

How long does it take for a heart to go back to normal?

Restore and maintain a normal rhythm: Some people with newly diagnosed atrial flutter go back to a normal rhythm on their own within 24-48 hours.

Why is flutter important?

Atrial flutter is important not only because of its symptoms but because it can cause a stroke that may result in permanent disability or death.

What is the name of the tube that is threaded through the vein to the heart?

If the diagnosis is still in question, your doctor may recommend a Holter monitor, an event monitor or an electrophysiological study, during which a narrow, flexible tube called a catheter is threaded through a vein to your heart under light sedation. Fine wires inside the catheter can help pinpoint the abnormal signal.

Can a catheter ablation cure atrial flutter?

This type of atrial flutter can be cured with a short outpatient catheter ablation procedure. Atypical atrial flutter refers to atrial flutter arising in the left atrium. Most types of atypical atrial flutter can also be treated with catheter ablation, but the procedure is longer and more involved.

Does atrial flutter go away?

Sometimes, atrial flutter goes away by itself and no further action is needed. If it persists, your doctor may pursue any of the following treatments: Treatment of any underlying conditions. Catheter ablation — procedure to destroy the errant electrical pathways; performed together with an electrophysiological study.

What to do if you think you have atrial fibrillation?

If you think you may have atrial fibrillation, it is critical that you make an appointment with your family doctor. If atrial fibrillation is found early, your treatment may be easier and more effective. However, you may be referred to a doctor trained in heart conditions (cardiologist).

What is the best medication for atrial fibrillation?

These medications include dabigatran, rivaroxaban, apixaban and edoxaban. They are shorter acting than warfarin and usually don't require regular blood tests or monitoring by your doctor.

How does catheter ablation help with atrial fibrillation?

Atrial fibrillation is often caused by rapidly discharging triggers, or "hot spots." In catheter ablation to treat atrial fibrillation, a doctor inserts long, thin tubes (catheters) into your groin and guides them through blood vessels to your heart. The electrodes at the tips of the catheters help your doctor determine where these triggers are located. Electrodes at the catheter tips can use radiofrequency energy, extreme cold (cryotherapy) or heat to destroy these triggers, scarring the tissue so that the erratic signals are normalized.

What is the procedure called when a catheter is placed in the left atrium?

Left atrial appendage closure. Your doctor may also consider a procedure called left atrial appendage closure. In this procedure, doctors insert a catheter through a vein in the leg and eventually guide it to the upper left heart chamber (left atrium).

How to diagnose atrial fibrillation?

To diagnose atrial fibrillation, your doctor may review your signs and symptoms, review your medical history, and conduct a physical examination. Your doctor may order several tests to diagnose your condition, including:

How does cardioversion work?

In this brief procedure, an electrical shock is delivered to your heart through paddles or patches placed on your chest. The shock stops your heart's electrical activity for a short moment. The goal is to reset your heart's normal rhythm.

What is the best medication to slow your heart rate?

Digoxin. This medication may control the heart rate at rest, but not as well during activity. Most people need additional or alternative medications, such as calcium channel blockers or beta blockers. Beta blockers. These medications can help to slow the heart rate at rest and during activity.

Drugs used to treat Atrial Flutter

The following list of medications are in some way related to, or used in the treatment of this condition.

Further information

Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.

Mechanism

Classification

Signs and symptoms

Treatment

Diagnosis

Prognosis

Medical uses

Prevention

• When atrial flutter is diagnosed, three options are available to restore sinus rhythm: (1) administer an antiarrhythmic drug; (2) initiate DC cardioversion; or (3) initiate rapid atrial pacing to terminate the atrial flutter (fig 4). Selection of acute treatment for atrial flutter with either DC cardioversion, atrial pacing or antiarrhythmic drug t...

See more on heart.bmj.com

Funding