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Ventricular flutter

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]

Overview

Overview

Ventricular flutter is an arrythmia affecting the ventricles that can occur in infancy[1], youth,[2] or as an adult.

Ventricular flutter is mostly caused by re-entry with a frequency of 300 bpm. The ECG shows a typical sinusoidal pattern. During ventricular flutter the ventricles depolarize in a circular pattern, which prevents good function. Most often this results in a minimal cardiac output and subsequent ischemia. Often deteriorates into Ventricular Fibrillation.

It can be induced by programmed electrical stimulation.[3][4]

Diagnosis

Diagnosis

EKG


Shown below is an EKG with a ventricular flutter.

Copyleft image obtained courtesy of ECGpedia, http://en.ecgpedia.org/wiki/Main_Page


Shown below is an EKG with a ventricular flutter.

Copyleft image obtained courtesy of ECGpedia, http://en.ecgpedia.org/wiki/File:Ventricular_flutter_12lead.jpg


Shown below is an EKG with a ventricular flutter.

Copyleft image obtained courtesy of ECGpedia, http://en.ecgpedia.org/wiki/File:Rhythm_flutter.png


References

References

  1. Thies KC, Boos K, Müller-Deile K, Ohrdorf W, Beushausen T, Townsend P (2000). “Ventricular flutter in a neonate–severe electrolyte imbalance caused by urinary tract infection in the presence of urinary tract malformation”. J Emerg Med. 18 (1): 47–50. PMID 10645837. Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
  2. Hayashi M, Murata M, Satoh M; et al. (1985). “Sudden nocturnal death in young males from ventricular flutter”. Jpn Heart J. 26 (4): 585–91. PMID 4057556. Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
  3. Gurevitz O, Viskin S, Glikson M; et al. (2004). “Long-term prognosis of inducible ventricular flutter: not an innocent finding”. Am. Heart J. 147 (4): 649–54. doi:10.1016/j.ahj.2003.11.012. PMID 15077080. Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
  4. Viskin S, Ish-Shalom M, Koifman E; et al. (2003). “Ventricular flutter induced during electrophysiologic studies in patients with old myocardial infarction: clinical and electrophysiologic predictors, and prognostic significance”. J. Cardiovasc. Electrophysiol. 14 (9): 913–9. PMID 12950532. Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)



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