Auricular Flutter - an Old Arrhythmia in a New Attire

Overview

Auricular flutter is a frequency arrhythmia, although data on its incidence and prevalence inthe population are not precisely known. The development of cardiac electrophysiology led duringthe past twenty years to definite evidence of the reentry mechanism as the basis for auricularflutter and thus it was possible to differentiate two basic types of this arrhythmia according tothe direction and site of the circular impulse - typical and atypical auricular flutter. A moredetailed classification of different types of auricular flutter proved furthermore important inparticular for the selection of a causal solution of this arrhythmia. First choice treatment oftypical auricular flutter is nowadays catheterization radiofrequency ablation and not pharma-cological treatment.Particularly important complications associated with auricular flutter are thromboemboliccomplications which were till recently, as compared with auricular fibrillation, rather underrated. Several papers published in recent years however provide convincing evidence of theincreased thromboembolic risk also in auricular flutter, similarly as stunning of the left atriumas a manifestation of mechanical dysfunction associated with cardioversion.Thus if the general practitioner diagnoses auricular flutter in a patient it is advisable to consulttreatment with a department which specializes in treatment of cardiac arrhythmias and whichshould always attempt causal treatment which with the development of knowledge of this veryinteresting arrhythmia is becoming more readily available.

Key words:
arrhythmia - auricular flutter - catheterization ablation.