Health Dictionary
Reliable, easy-to-read patient information on common medical conditions — written in plain language, free of jargon, and grounded in current evidence. Browse the most frequent diagnoses, understand what they mean for everyday life, and learn which steps and questions help you have a focused conversation with your doctor.
Atrial kick
Introduction
Overview
The atrial kick is the augmentation of left ventricular filling that occurs with normal coordinated contraction of the atrium. The left atrial kick is lost when a patient is in atrial fibrillation as there is no coordinated atrial contraction. Loss of the atrial kick is associated with diminished filling of the left ventricle and reduced cardiac output.
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]