What does intermittent atrial fibrillation look like? | What changes do you see in the ECG in atrial fibrillation?

What does intermittent atrial fibrillation look like?

Intermittent atrial fibrillation is characterized by the fact that it spontaneously returns to a normal (so-called sinus rhythm) after its onset. This leads to phases in the ECG in which no P-waves are detectable (phase of atrial fibrillation), and is usually accompanied by an increased pulse rate. Subsequently, the heart rhythm “jumps” back into its usual form, which is expressed in the ECG by a P-wave, a QRS-complete and a T-wave. In most cases, the heart rate is also back to normal. After some time, atrial fibrillation can occur again.

What does paroxysmal atrial fibrillation look like?

The term “paroxysmal” comes from the Greek and is best translated as “seizure-like”. In medical terminology it is used synonymously with the term “intermittent”. Therefore, paroxysmal (=intermittent) atrial fibrillation is characterized by a spontaneous change between phases of normal (sinus rhythm) and phases of atrial fibrillation. During paroxysmal atrial fibrillation, usually no P-wave is visible in the ECG. The sinus rhythm is usually normofrequent with P-wave, QRS-complex and T-wave.

What does a WPW in the ECG look like?

The WPW (Wolff-Parkinson-White Syndrome) is a disease from the spectrum of cardiac arrhythmias. The electrical excitation is usually transmitted faster to the ventricles via additional conduction paths between the atria and the ventricles. This leads to a tachycardic (fast heartbeat) image in the ECG.In addition, the delta wave, which is located in the area of the QRS complex (which represents the contraction of the heart chambers), can be seen in the ECG. The QRS-complex is thus broadened. Due to pathological (= pathological) return of the excitation into the atria, atrial fibrillation with the corresponding signs in the ECG can occur.

P-Shaft

The P-wave in the ECG represents the excitation conduction in the atria. The heart’s own pacemaker, the sinus node, is located in the right atrium. From there, the electrical stimulus is conducted through the atria in the direction of the ventricles.

This process is normally represented by the P-wave. In atrial fibrillation, the transmission of the stimulus in the atria is no longer coordinated. This changes the shape of the P-wave. In most cases, this results in a completely undirected and chaotic transmission of stimuli in the atria. As a result, only so-called flicker waves or no waves at all are visible at the actual location of the P-waves.