Indications of Atrial Fibrillation on the Electrocardiogram
Atrial fibrillation is a common heart condition that is estimated to affect over 3 million Americans and often results in a predictable pattern on the electrocardiogram.
Individuals who work in cardiovascular care as a technician do not need to be able to perform in-depth analysis of this disease, but they should have a basic understanding of the wave patterns it creates so that they can deliver high quality and comprehensive care to the patients they help manage.
Since atrial fibrillation is so widespread, several EKG technician programs address the topic in great detail during the orientation and training process.
Fibrillation is characterized by rapid and irregular contractions of the cardiac chambers.
The two smaller chambers that force blood into the ventricles are known as atria and they may be affected by abnormal electrical stimulation that leads to fibrillation.
A collection of nerve fibers known as the sinoatrial node is located in the right atrium and is responsible for regulating the electrical signals that cause contraction.
In cases of fibrillation, the sinoatrial node becomes overwhelmed and is no longer able to set the pace for cardiac contraction.
This leads to irregular beats that can reduce the efficiency of ventricular filling and overall cardiac output.
There are several theories that have been established in an attempt to explain why atrial fibrillation may occur.
One of the popular explanations is that there is a focused area of increased electrical activity that happens in the cardiac tissue near the pulmonary veins.
An alternate theory states that electrical signals travel aimlessly through the atria and are maintained through complex electrical circuits.
Atria that have become dilated may be more susceptible to this type of re-entry electrical activity.
Fortunately, most of these electrical signals do not pass through the atrioventricular node or cause the ventricles to contract.
If irregular signals were allowed to enter the ventricles, they would likely cause tachycardia which would severely compromise cardiac output and require urgent intervention.
On an electrocardiogram, the first wave is referred to as a 'P wave' and is representative of contraction of the atria.
In cases of atrial fibrillation, there is no definitive contraction of the atria and the P wave is typically absent.
In addition, the technician may observe an irregularly irregular rhythm, ventricular rate variations, a loss of the isoelectric baseline, fibrillatory waves, fast or slow ventricular response, along with QRS complexes that are less than 120 milliseconds.
Licensed medical professionals such as nurses and physicians are the ones responsible for in-depth analysis of these elements and they often choose to order other studies such as echocardiograms and Holter monitoring to establish an informed strategy for short and long-term treatment.
A few of the most common signs and symptoms associated with this condition include things like chest pain, fatigue, dizziness, lightheadedness, confusion, weakness, palpitations, and much more.
These are the result of a decrease in cardiac output and reduced oxygen delivery to the brain and other peripheral tissues.
In several cases, the patient may present with very few signs or symptoms that would indicate atrial fibrillation and the condition may be discovered incidental to other concerns that the patient may have.
Again, professional medical evaluation cannot generally be performed by unlicensed personnel and should be left to the nurses and physicians.
Atrial fibrillation can be classified into several different categories based on many different factors that will be evaluated by the patient's doctor.
Also, there are several approaches to treatment that can be used given the individual's unique circumstances.
Although the technician usually does not need to have detailed knowledge of these topics, they should have a basic understanding of the atrial fibrillation ECG so that they can provide an initial evaluation of the quality of the test results and help to expedite the delivery of high quality and comprehensive care to the patients being managed.
Individuals who work in cardiovascular care as a technician do not need to be able to perform in-depth analysis of this disease, but they should have a basic understanding of the wave patterns it creates so that they can deliver high quality and comprehensive care to the patients they help manage.
Since atrial fibrillation is so widespread, several EKG technician programs address the topic in great detail during the orientation and training process.
Fibrillation is characterized by rapid and irregular contractions of the cardiac chambers.
The two smaller chambers that force blood into the ventricles are known as atria and they may be affected by abnormal electrical stimulation that leads to fibrillation.
A collection of nerve fibers known as the sinoatrial node is located in the right atrium and is responsible for regulating the electrical signals that cause contraction.
In cases of fibrillation, the sinoatrial node becomes overwhelmed and is no longer able to set the pace for cardiac contraction.
This leads to irregular beats that can reduce the efficiency of ventricular filling and overall cardiac output.
There are several theories that have been established in an attempt to explain why atrial fibrillation may occur.
One of the popular explanations is that there is a focused area of increased electrical activity that happens in the cardiac tissue near the pulmonary veins.
An alternate theory states that electrical signals travel aimlessly through the atria and are maintained through complex electrical circuits.
Atria that have become dilated may be more susceptible to this type of re-entry electrical activity.
Fortunately, most of these electrical signals do not pass through the atrioventricular node or cause the ventricles to contract.
If irregular signals were allowed to enter the ventricles, they would likely cause tachycardia which would severely compromise cardiac output and require urgent intervention.
On an electrocardiogram, the first wave is referred to as a 'P wave' and is representative of contraction of the atria.
In cases of atrial fibrillation, there is no definitive contraction of the atria and the P wave is typically absent.
In addition, the technician may observe an irregularly irregular rhythm, ventricular rate variations, a loss of the isoelectric baseline, fibrillatory waves, fast or slow ventricular response, along with QRS complexes that are less than 120 milliseconds.
Licensed medical professionals such as nurses and physicians are the ones responsible for in-depth analysis of these elements and they often choose to order other studies such as echocardiograms and Holter monitoring to establish an informed strategy for short and long-term treatment.
A few of the most common signs and symptoms associated with this condition include things like chest pain, fatigue, dizziness, lightheadedness, confusion, weakness, palpitations, and much more.
These are the result of a decrease in cardiac output and reduced oxygen delivery to the brain and other peripheral tissues.
In several cases, the patient may present with very few signs or symptoms that would indicate atrial fibrillation and the condition may be discovered incidental to other concerns that the patient may have.
Again, professional medical evaluation cannot generally be performed by unlicensed personnel and should be left to the nurses and physicians.
Atrial fibrillation can be classified into several different categories based on many different factors that will be evaluated by the patient's doctor.
Also, there are several approaches to treatment that can be used given the individual's unique circumstances.
Although the technician usually does not need to have detailed knowledge of these topics, they should have a basic understanding of the atrial fibrillation ECG so that they can provide an initial evaluation of the quality of the test results and help to expedite the delivery of high quality and comprehensive care to the patients being managed.
