Introduction
In atrial flutter, an electrical signal travels repeatedly around a circuit in the upper chambers of the heart. This can make the heartbeat fast and may cause palpitations, breathlessness, tiredness, dizziness or chest discomfort. Some people have no symptoms.
Assessment and treatment choices
An ECG often identifies flutter clearly. We also consider the heart rate, symptoms, other medical conditions and whether atrial fibrillation has occurred as well. This informs both the immediate rhythm plan and the discussion about stroke prevention.
Medication may slow the heart rate or help control rhythm. Cardioversion can restore normal rhythm in some situations. For typical flutter, catheter ablation can treat the circuit directly and is often considered when episodes are troublesome or recurrent.
Key points
- An ECG or rhythm monitorconfirms the diagnosis.
- Treatment may include rate control, stroke-risk assessment, cardioversion or ablation.
- Catheter ablation is often an effective treatment option for typical atrial flutter.
Patient note
“Flutter is often treatable, but the right approach depends on how it affects you and whether there are any related rhythm or heart conditions.”
Questions about atrial flutter
What type of flutter is present? Do I need stroke prevention? Would medication, cardioversion or ablation be the most useful next step?
FAQ
Is atrial flutter the same as AF?
No. Both come from the upper chambers of the heart, but AF is irregular while flutter is usually a very fast, more organised circuit.