Arrhythmias Originating in the Atria

Fabio Leonelli; Giuseppe Bagliani; Giuseppe Boriani; Luigi Padeletti

doi:10.1016/j.ccep.2017.05.002

Arrhythmias Originating in the Atria

Card Electrophysiol Clin. 2017 Sep;9(3):383-409. doi: 10.1016/j.ccep.2017.05.002.

Authors

Fabio Leonelli¹, Giuseppe Bagliani², Giuseppe Boriani³, Luigi Padeletti⁴

Affiliations

¹ Cardiology Department James A. Haley Veterans' Hospital, University South Florida, 13000 Bruce B Down Boulevard, Tampa 33612, FL, USA.
² Arrhythmology Unit, Cardiology Department, Foligno General Hospital, Via Massimo Arcamone, 06034 Foligno (PG), Italy; Cardiovascular Diseases Department, University of Perugia, Piazza Menghini 1, 06129 Perugia Italy. Electronic address: [email protected].
³ Cardiology Department, Modena University Hospital, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Via Università, 4, 41121 Modena, Italy.
⁴ Heart and Vessels Department, University of Florence, Largo Brambilla, 3, 50134 Florence, Italy; IRCCS Multimedica, Cardiology Department, Via Milanese, 300, 20099 Sesto San Giovanni, Italy.

PMID: 28838547
DOI: 10.1016/j.ccep.2017.05.002

Abstract

Atrial flutter, atrial tachycardias, and atrial fibrillation are the main sustained atrial tachycardias. Reentry, increased automaticity, and triggered activity are atrial arrhythmia's main mechanisms. Atrial flutter is the clinical and theoretical model of reentry. Its classification is based on the atrial chamber involved and the arrhythmia's anatomic path. Ablative procedures for atrial fibrillation have created several new reentrant tachycardias. Electrocardiography (ECG) identifies the site of origin of focal atrial tachycardias and the mechanism of these arrhythmias. ECG is fundamental in the diagnosis of atrial fibrillation and often allows understanding of its mechanism of origin and maintenance.

Keywords: Atrial arrhythmias; Atrial fibrillation; Atrial flutter; Atrial tachycardia; ECG; Scar-related arrhythmias.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Atrial Fibrillation / physiopathology*
Atrial Flutter / physiopathology*
Electrocardiography
Heart Atria / physiopathology*
Humans
Tachycardia / physiopathology*