Need to know which Atrial Fibrillation or Atrial Flutter before scheduled Ablation Procedure?

[Zzxo]

Atrial Flutter or Atrial Fibrillation ?

Difficult to determine which it is when heart is racing 140s 180’s 200 . Will an EP study determine which it is? From my understanding, the EP study can manipulate different arrhythmias , therefore not a diagnostic procedure? 6 episodes in 8 months 5 resolved through electrical cardioversion. Doctors keep trying to determine which it is, AFib or AFlutter? Because treatment is different for AFib or AFlutter (section to be ablated) how can we determine before a scheduled Ablation?

I guess I’ll call my Doctors and hope they will explain. Please share what you can . I’m so confused.

[CDreamer]

They should show differently on an ECG but if you have both & high HR that can confuse things.

Flutter is easier to ablate as in right atria whereas AF in L atria. I had both a latex in same procedure. If they find both, they will ablate both.

[Hidden]

As I understand it, Atrial Flutter is when the pulse remains regular regardless of speed (rate) and Atrial Fibrillation is when the pulse is irregular, regardless of speed (rate).

[BobD Volunteer]

The two arrhythmias have quite different ECG signatures so whilst you may not know your EP will .

Since flutter is predominantly in the right atrium where the catheter arrives from your groin this is usually easier and quicker to deal with but if there is also fibrillation (in the left atrium) the EP would normally ablate this first and deal with the flutter on the way out.

[Omniscient1]

What everyone else has said is correct as far as I know. AFib is irregular, flutter is regular. But some ECG machines will get confused and print on 'flutter' when it's not for instance. If this is not examined properly it can go unnoticed. My gp changed my diagnosis from AFib to flutter on this basis until I had the ECG record checked.

[Sakhay]

My experience is that, atrial flutter feels like elevated but regular heartrate about 120 beats per minute. It is easier to cope with than atrial fibrillation. Atrial fibrillation is irregular/chaotic and heartrate can go up and down. Feels like there is a fish in your chest trying to get out.

[Diver2]

An electrophysiologist can tell by looking at the EKG whether it is a Flutter or AFib.... he can also show you which is which. You could be having both at the same time and he should be able to show you each on the EKG.