What ECG distinguishes atrial flutter from atrial fibrillation ?
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12-lead ECG comparison atrial flutter sawtooth waves versus atrial fibrillation irregularly irregular baseline
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"atrial fibrillation" AND "atrial flutter"
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atrial flutter versus atrial fibrillation ECG sawtooth irregularly irregular American Heart Association
Atrial flutter: organized, regular atrial activity producing continuous “saw-tooth” flutter (F) waves, best seen in leads II, III, aVF and often V1. The ventricular rhythm is commonly regular with fixed AV block, for example 2:1 conduction giving a ventricular rate near 150/min.
Atrial fibrillation: no discrete P waves. The baseline has fine or coarse, chaotic fibrillatory activity and the R-R intervals are irregularly irregular.
Key caution: atrial flutter with variable AV conduction can also have an irregular ventricular rhythm. In that case, the differentiator is the organized, repeating flutter waves, not regularity alone. The American Heart Association overview similarly contrasts coordinated flutter with chaotic AF.
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