Atrial fibrillation
Causes
Heart valve disease
CAD
HTN
PE
Cardiothoracic surgery
Heart Failure
Congenital Heart Disease
Excessive alcohol or caffiene intake
Hyperthyroidism
What is it?
Irregular beating of the atria
EKG showing afib
no P wave, wavy baseline instead
Rapid heart rate
110 to 180 beats per minute
Complications
Heart failure
with prolonged lack of rhythm/rate control
Clot
MI
Stroke
Symptoms
Palpitations
may give feeling of need to cough
SOB
increases with activity
presyncope, syncope, or dizziness
chest pain/pressure
weakness/fatigue
Treatment
Rate Control
Betablockers
metoprolol or carvedilol
calciumchannel blockers
diltiazem
Cardiac glycoside
Digoxin
Permanent Pacemaker
Anticoagulation Management
CHADS2 score of 2 or more
Pradaxa or Coumadin
Rhythm Contorl
Antiarrhythmia medication
Tikosyn
must be hospitalized for initiation
Sotalol
Amiodarone
side effects
Hypothroidism
Pulmonary fibrosis
Flecainide
Propafenone
Ablation
Targeted/focal
return to NSR if successful
