Atrial FibrillationAn Overview For Electrocardiogram Technicians

What is Fibrillation?

A rapid and uncoordinated muscular contraction

Results in decrease cardiac output in the heart

Severity depends on the chamber affected

Cause by aberrant electrical impulses

Leads to predictable abnormalities on the EKG

Cardiac Structure

The heart contains four chambers

Two smaller chambers on the top known as atria

Two larger chambers on the bottom called ventricles

Fibrillation can occur in either the atria or ventricles

Ventricular fibrillation is more severe

Atrial Function and Fibrillation

Primary purpose is to force blood into the ventricles

Right chamber contains a sinoatrial node that is responsible for regulating electrical stimuli

Fibrillatory impulses originate from tissue near the pulmonary veins

Allowed to wonder aimlessly through the atria

Sustained by re-entry circuits

Atrial Function and Fibrillation

Irregular and uncoordinated contractions result in less blood being pushed into the ventricles

Decreases cardiac output

Less oxygen and nutrients delivered to the body

Can cause signs and symptoms

Electrical stimuli usually do not enter the ventricles

EKG Changes

Absent P waves

Fibrillatory waves

Loss of the isoelectric baseline

QRS abnormalities

Ventricular rate variations

Irregular rhythms

Medical Evaluation

To be performed by nurses and physicians

May order additional studies such as echocardiogram and Holter monitoring

Ensure test quality

Identify obvious abnormalities

Diagnosis and treatment can be complex

Resources

Atrial Fibrillation ECG

www.ekgtechniciansalary.org