What mechanism is Atrial Flutter?

Prepare for the Electrophysiology Unit (EPU) 26.19 exam with our interactive quiz featuring flashcards and multiple choice questions. Check your understanding with hints and explanations for each question.

Multiple Choice

What mechanism is Atrial Flutter?

Explanation:
The mechanism is macro-reentrant. Atrial flutter arises from a large reentrant circuit that travels through the atria, creating a rapid, organized spiral of activation. In the typical flutter, this circuit often runs around the tricuspid annulus and through the cavo-tricuspid isthmus, producing a consistent and regular atrial rhythm. That large, fixed loop distinguishes it from other mechanisms: micro-reentrant would involve a much smaller reentrant circuit, focal atrial tachycardia comes from a single ectopic focus rather than a loop, and atrial fibrillation is driven by multiple, disorganized reentrant wavelets with no stable circuit.

The mechanism is macro-reentrant. Atrial flutter arises from a large reentrant circuit that travels through the atria, creating a rapid, organized spiral of activation. In the typical flutter, this circuit often runs around the tricuspid annulus and through the cavo-tricuspid isthmus, producing a consistent and regular atrial rhythm. That large, fixed loop distinguishes it from other mechanisms: micro-reentrant would involve a much smaller reentrant circuit, focal atrial tachycardia comes from a single ectopic focus rather than a loop, and atrial fibrillation is driven by multiple, disorganized reentrant wavelets with no stable circuit.

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