Difference between Afib and atrial flutter

[DKBX]

I’ve been told by my EP that I have shifted from Afib to atrial flutter. I have had a cryoballoon ablation, two radio-frequency ablations, two cardioversions. I’m on metoprolol Tartrate and flecainide.

What precisely IS the difference between Afib and flutter? Will a fourth ablation help?

[BobD Volunteer]

Generally speaking A Fib occurs in the left atrium and is a chaotic rumble of non rhythm whereas flutter comes from the right atrium and is a fast regular rhythm which shows as a saw tooth pattern on an ECG. It is very much easier to ablate as no transpetal puncture is needed to get across into the left side of the heart,.

[DKBX in reply to BobD]

Thanks. Makes sense now.

[wilsond]

I have both.Flutter occurs usually in the top right chamber and is a fast regular beat,it forms a loop circuit which on ablation is interuppted.

95%+success rate. Drug therapy is not nearly as effective ,unlike AFIb where it can be trickier to ablate but where drugs can often help.

Hope that helps xx

[DKBX in reply to wilsond]

Thanks. I’m encouraged.

[KMRobbo]

I developed rate controlled reentrant flutter 9 days after my afib PVI cryoablation. The flutter was in the right atria. I was at a constant 140 rpm and this was limited by the 200mg diltiazem I was taking. I was very breathless on any movement. I did little but lie down. In contrast i was asymptomatic in afib.

My EP advised the flutter was probably promoted by the flecainide I was taking for the AFIB.

I had a second ablation , this time RF, 3 weeks later which stopped the flutter. I was advised that this procedure was 95 % succesful and if succesful was very unlikely to return.

Best wishes

[DKBX in reply to KMRobbo]

Thanks. That’s helpful.

[ranobeer in reply to KMRobbo]

Hi KMRobbo and DKBX, that's exactly what has happened to me, mine was 6 days after ablation that I went into Flutter. looks like a good success rate?

[KMRobbo in reply to ranobeer]

The flutter was caused by the flecainide. If I had been wise enough to go for an ablation earlier, I would not have had the flutter, as I would never have been on flecainide! ( I was originally anti ablation). I am over 3 years past both both ablations and (so far as I am aware) I have had neither AFib nor Aflutter return. My EP advised if the flutter ablation was successful it was very very unlikely it would return.

[TracyAdmin Partner]

Please do not hesitate to contact our helpline or visit our AF Website for further information.

[Doggiemomma]

Thanks for asking this question! I have a really big learning curve ahead of me! Take care.