Biomedical subjects

F Arribas

Publications and source records attributed to F Arribas.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2002

The EMECAM project: a multicentre study on air pollution and mortality in Spain: combined results for particulates and for sulfur dioxide.

OBJECTIVE: The EMECAM study is a collaborative effort to evaluate the impact of air pollution on mortality in Spain. In this paper the combined results are presented for the short term effects of particulates and sulfur dioxide on both daily mortality for all and for specific causes. METHODS: The relation between daily mortality for all causes, cardiovascular diseases, and respiratory diseases, and air pollution for particulates (daily concentrations) and SO(2) (24 and 1 hour concentrations) was assessed in 13 Spanish cities for the period 1990-6. With a standardised method, magnitude of association in each city was estimated by Poisson regression in a generalised additive model. Local estimates were obtained from both single and two pollutant analyses. Lastly, combined estimates for each cause and pollutant were obtained. RESULTS: For combined results, in single pollutant models a 10 microg/m(3) increase in the concentration of the mean of the concurrent and one day lag for black smoke was associated with a 0.8% (95% confidence interval (95% CI) 0.4 to 1.1%) increase in total mortality. The estimates for total suspended particles (TSPs) and particulate matter of aerodynamic diameter <10 microm (PM(10)) and total mortality were slightly lower. The same increase in concentrations of SO(2) was associated with a 0.5% increase in daily deaths. For groups of specific causes, higher estimations were found, specially for respiratory conditions. Peak concentrations of SO(2) showed significant associations with the three groups of mortality. When two pollutant analyses were performed, estimates for particulates, specially for black smoke, did not substantially change. The estimates for daily concentrations of SO(2) were greatly reduced, but, on the contrary, the association with peak concentrations of SO(2) did not show any change. CONCLUSIONS: There is an association between mortality and pollution through particulates among city populations in Spain. Peak rather than daily concentrations of SO(2) were related to mortality. Results suggest that populations in Spanish cities are exposed to health risks derived from air pollution.

Air Pollutants↗

PubMed2001

Bundle-branch reentry and the postpacing interval after entrainment by right ventricular apex stimulation: a new approach to elucidate the mechanism of wide-QRS-complex tachycardia with atrioventricular dissociation.

BACKGROUND: Diagnosis of bundle-branch reentry ventricular tachycardia (BBR-VT) by the standard approach is challenging, and this may lead to nonrecognition of this tachycardia mechanism. Because the postpacing interval (PPI) after entrainment has been correlated with the distance from the pacing site to the reentrant circuit, BBR-VT entrainment by pacing from the right ventricular apex (RVA) should result in a PPI similar to the tachycardia cycle length (TCL). This factor may differentiate BBR-VT from other mechanisms of wide-QRS-complex tachycardia with AV dissociation, such as myocardial reentrant VT (MR-VT) or AV nodal reentrant tachycardia (AVNRT), in which the circuit is usually located away from the RVA. METHODS AND RESULTS: Transient entrainment by RVA pacing was attempted in 18 consecutive BBR-VTs and finally achieved in 13. Results were compared with those found in 59 consecutive MR-VTs and 50 consecutive AVNRTs. The mean PPI-TCL difference was significantly (P:<0.0001) shorter in the BBR-VT group (9+/-11 ms) than in the MR-VT (109+/-48 ms) and the AVNRT (150+/-29 ms) groups. No BBR-VT showed a PPI-TCL >30 ms (range -12 to 24 ms). Except for 2 MR-VTs, no MR-VT (range 21 to 211 ms) or AVNRT (range 100 to 215 ms) showed a PPI-TCL <30 ms. CONCLUSIONS: A PPI-TCL >30 ms, after entrainment by RVA stimulation, makes BBR-VT unlikely. Conversely, a PPI-TCL <30 ms is suggestive of BBR-VT but should lead to further investigation by use of conventional criteria.

Bundle-Branch Block↗

PubMed2001

[Transient complete atrioventricular block following a nonpenetrating chest trauma].

Cardiac contusion may cause disorders of impulse formation and propagation in the specific conduction system. Transient complete atrioventricular block following a nonpenetrating chest trauma is a rare complication.We describe the case of a patient who presented a transient complete atrioventricular block, and later a transient right bundle branch block and a left anterior hemiblock, following a nonpenetrating chest trauma due to a car accident. The difficulty for diagnosing myocardial contusion is pointed out, and the usefulness of the electrophysiological study for detecting baseline conduction system disorders is discussed.

Accidents, Traffic↗

PubMed2001

Environmental risk factors and Crohn's disease: a population-based, case-control study in Spain.

BACKGROUND: The pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease probably involves an interaction between genetic and environmental factors: cigarette smoking, appendectomy and oral contraceptives have been the factors most frequently linked to its aetiology AIM: To analyse the association between known environmental risk factors and development of Crohn's disease in the community of Aragón, Spain. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A case-control, population-based study has been carried out. All patients diagnosed with Crohn's disease in the community of Aragón from 1st February 1992 to 31st January 1995 were prospectively included. The Lennard Jones criteria were used to define the cases and selected controls among the healthy population matched with patients for age, sex and rural/urban habitat. Statistical analysis included multivariate analysis using conditional logistic regression, testing 38 different models. RESULTS: A total of 103 patients were diagnosed with Crohn's disease in Aragón from 1st February, 1992 to 31st January, 1995. Of these 62 patients (60.2%) with Crohn's disease were smokers, compared with 42 (40.8%) controls (p<0.001). Cigarette smoking is considered a risk factor for Crohn's disease with an odds ratio of 3.09 (95% confidence interval, 1.58-6.05). After multivariate analysis, the positive association is maintained. A dose-dependent relation could not be demonstrated. No statistical differences (p=0.50) were detected in the analysis of previous appendectomy. Use of oral contraceptive acts as a risk factor with a p=0.048; odds ratio 2, 8, 95% confidence interval: 1.009-7.774; but this association disappears in the multivariate analysis. Eight patients had a family history (3 first degree and 5 second degree relatives) versus none of the controls (p=0.002). Of the variables studied for childhood hygiene none appeared significant. CONCLUSION: Smoking, family history, and oral contraceptive use, appear as risk factors for developing Crohn's disease in univariate analysis, but only smoking remains significant in all models of multivariate analysis.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2001

The concentration-response relation between air pollution and daily deaths.

Studies on three continents have reported associations between various measures of airborne particles and daily deaths. Sulfur dioxide has also been associated with daily deaths, particularly in Europe. Questions remain about the shape of those associations, particularly whether there are thresholds at low levels. We examined the association of daily concentrations of black smoke and SO(2) with daily deaths in eight Spanish cities (Barcelona, Bilbao, Castellón, Gijón, Oviedo, Valencia, Vitoria, and Zaragoza) with different climates and different environmental and social characteristics. We used nonparametric smoothing to estimate the shape of the concentration-response curve in each city and combined those results using a metasmoothing technique developed by Schwartz and Zanobetti. We extended their method to incorporate random variance components. Black smoke had a nearly linear association with daily deaths, with no evidence of a threshold. A 10 microg/m(3) increase in black smoke was associated with a 0.88% increase in daily deaths (95% confidence interval, 0.56%-1.20%). SO(2) had a less plausible association: Daily deaths increased at very low concentrations, but leveled off and then decreased at higher concentrations. These findings held in both one- and two-pollutant models and held whether we optimized our weather and seasonal model in each city or used the same smoothing parameters in each city. We conclude that the association with particle levels is more convincing than for SO(2), and without a threshold. Linear models provide an adequate estimation of the effect of particulate air pollution on mortality at low to moderate concentrations.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2000

Radiofrequency ablation of atrial tachycardia and atrial flutter.

Atrial endocardial mapping defines the activation pattern during regular atrial arrhythmias. The response to pacing (entrainment mapping) yields additional information about the mechanism and location of the circuit. Regarding radiofrequency ablation, the regular atrial tachycardias may be classified in two broad patterns: 1) macroreentrant tachycardias, characterized by circular activation, including typical atrial flutter and reentry around scars, and 2) focal tachycardias, characterized by radial activation from a small myocardial area. Catheter ablation of right atrial macroreentrant circuits and focal tachycardias are now standard procedures. The target for ablation of focal tachycardia is the point of earliest activation, and single application is effective in most cases. Ablation of macroreentrant tachycardias requires identifying a narrow isthmus inside the circuit, and linear ablation is needed in most cases. The goal of radiofrequency ablation for typical atrial flutter is to interrupt conduction across the inferior vena cavatricuspid valve isthmus. The procedure is highly effective and safe, although recurrences of the arrhythmia are not rare. Incisional macroreentrant tachycardias after surgical correction of congenital heart diseases and primary cardiac tumors may also be ablated identifying critical isthmuses in the circuit by a combination of mapping and entrainment techniques. Left atrial macroreentry is much less known and at present more information is needed before catheter ablation becomes a standard procedure.

Adult↗

PubMed2000

Ventricular fibrillation induced by rapid atrial rates in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

AIMS: To describe the mechanisms of induction of ventricular fibrillation (VF) by rapid atrial rates in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). METHODS: Electrophysiological studies, management and follow-up in three patients with HCM with VF induced by atrial pacing. RESULTS: In one patient, spontaneous sinus tachycardia triggered VF. In another patient, VF occurred after verapamil infusion during rapid atrial fibrillation, and in the remaining patient there was no clinical VF. In all three patients, short runs of atrial pacing (cycle length 272-380 ms) induced VF, and QRS widening preceded fibrillation in all patients. Marked ventricular electrogram fragmentation was documented in one patient during atrial pacing and in another patient during late ventricular extra-stimuli. Hypotension was associated with sinus tachycardia in one patient. The two patients developing clinical VF underwent atrioventricular (AV) junctional ablation; a ventricular defibrillator was implanted in one, and a mode-switching dual-chamber pacemaker in the other. No arrhythmic events occurred during 34- and 35-month follow-up, respectively. In the other patient, postatrial fibrillation pauses caused syncope, and he is asymptomatic 52 months after implantation of a dual-chamber pacemaker. CONCLUSIONS: Rapid atrial rates can trigger VF in some patients with HCM, probably through a combination of electrophysiological and ischaemic mechanisms. AV junctional ablation may prevent VF in selected cases.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1998

[The ablation of atrial flutter. The long-term results after 8 years of experience].

OBJECTIVE: Since the 1990's radiofrequency ablation radiofrequency ablation of atrial flutter has evolved in its methods and results. We have reviewed the long term outcome in 62 patients with typical (common) or reversed (clockwise) flutter undergoing radiofrequency ablation between 1990 and 1997. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Fifty men and 12 women, aged 22-78 years (57 +/- 12) with flutter recurring after cardioversion and antiarrhythmic drugs make this series. Flutter was typical in 59 cases and reversed in 3. There was no heart disease in 14, bronchopulmonary disease in 10, coronary disease in 9, cardiomyopathies in 6 and other processes in the remainder. In 5 cases with previous surgery for atrial or ventricular septal defect, Ebstein's anomaly or myxoma, we treated also a macro-reentry tachycardia around the atriotomy in the right atrium. Radiofrequency ablation was directed to the inferior vena cava-tricuspid isthmus in typical and reversed flutter, and to the isthmus between the inferior end of the atriotomy and the inferior vena cava, in the lateral right atrium, in the atriotomy tachycardias. We subdivided our patients in Group 1 (24 patients), treated until the end of 1994, and Group 2 (38 patients) treated since 1995 using specially designed catheters and trying to produce isthmus block as the endpoint of the procedure. RESULTS: Radiofrequency ablation interrupted flutter in 61 of 62 cases (98.4%), and the atriotomy tachycardia in all 5. The number of application in Group 1 was 18.6 +/- 10.1 vs 12 +/- 10 in Group 2 (p < 0.05). Follow-up was 40 +/- 24 months in Group 1 vs 16 +/- 9.5 in Group 2. Flutter recurred in 58% of Group 1 and 13% of Group 2 patients (p < 0.001), usually 1-3 months after radiofrequency ablation and they were successfully treated by new radiofrequency ablation with a small number of applications. There was no recurrence of atriotomy tachycardia. Atrial fibrillation occurred in 14 patients (23%) (11 paroxysmal, 3 persistent), with equal incidence in both groups. At the end of follow-up 85% of the patients were in sinus rhythm, although 6 needed pacemakers for sinus node dysfunction (3) or AV ablation (3). Antiarrhythmic drugs were used by 46% of patients in Group 1 and 26% in Group 2 (p = NS) for atrial arrhythmias or recurrent flutter. CONCLUSIONS: Radiofrequency ablation is an effective treatment for flutter and macro-reentry atriotomy tachycardia. Progress in methods have improved results significantly. Atrial fibrillation can still be a problem in 20-25% of the patients after flutter control.

Adult↗

PubMed1998

Mechanisms of induction of typical and reversed atrial flutter.

INTRODUCTION: Typical flutter is due to reentry around caval veins and terminal crest. In patients with typical flutter, reversed (clockwise) reentry can be induced. We studied mechanisms of typical and reversed flutter induction. METHODS AND RESULTS: Thirteen patients (11 men) underwent 16 radiofrequency (RF) ablation procedures for typical (12) or reversed flutter (1). High right atrium (RA) stimulation included 1 to 3 extrastimuli over cycle lengths 600 to 250 msec, and burst. We recorded simultaneously from three levels of septal and anterior RA. RF was delivered to the inferior vena cava-tricuspid isthmus (CTI). Of 25 inductions, 4 were a result of single, 9 double, and 11 triple extrastimuli, and 1 burst. Clinical basal flutter was induced (7 typical, 1 reversed). After RF, typical flutter was reinduced in 9 cases and reversed flutter in 7, with only typical flutter seen clinically. All flutters were interrupted by ablation or catheter pressure on the CTI. Typical flutter began by low RA septal activation block, preceded by repetitive responses in 12 instances, atypical flutter in 1, and directly from stimuli in 4. Reversed flutter started in 8 instances by low RA block of a stimulated front descending the anterior wall and in 1 by repetitive responses. CONCLUSION: Septal activation block was the usual mechanism of typical flutter induction by RA extrastimuli. Facilitation of reversed flutter after RF application is probably due to a new area of block in the CTI. Flutter induction without intermediate rhythms confirms the presence of block at the terminal crest at baseline.

Atrial Flutter↗

PubMed1998

[The Sociedad Española de Cardiología on the Internet: current resources and future prospects. The Internet Committee of the Sociedad Española de Cardiología].

The Internet can help physicians to identify needed clinical information quickly providing continued medical education. Internet also improves medical information of the non-medical population. Researchers have quick access to library catalogs, Medline and other important databases from the most recognized research centers. Furthermore, it can put physicians in ready contact with other specialists for communication and consultation, facilitates administrative procedures of multicenter studies and accelerates editorial processes of biomedical journals. Since its creation, the website of the Spanish Society of Cardiology has evolved rapidly to the present model, providing different kinds of services to its members including faster communication, information from national and international societies and congresses, earlier access to the full content of Revista Española de Cardiología and to a variety of graphic resources and of continuing education. Nowadays, the website of the Spanish Society of Cardiology is consulted by one thousand visitors a week, even at weekends. The degree of activity increases from 3 h P.M. with a peak from 11 h P.M. to 1 h A.M. In the near future, our website will incorporate its own courses of continuing medical education with on-line evaluation and credit granting, will give support to multicenter studies and will initiate the publication and discussion of clinical cases of interest.

Cardiology↗

PubMed1997

The upper link of human common atrial flutter circuit: definition by multiple endocardial recordings during entrainment.

Common atrial flutter is due to a macroreentry circuit in the right atrium, but the cranial path of the circuit has not been defined. The objectives of this article are to determine the cranial turning point of flutter activation in relation to a hypothetic obstacle, the superior vena cava opening, by examining the changes in activation sequence produced by entrainment from different points. In 13 cases of common atrial flutter with typical counter-clockwise right atrial circuits confirmed by endocardial mapping the atrium was paced from the high posterior and mid-septal walls. Entrainment was confirmed by simultaneous recordings of 6-7 right atrial electrograms. Changes in sequence of electrograms from high septum and high anterolateral walls was sought. Electrogram sequence and morphology did not change with entrainment at the posterior wall with respect to the basal flutter or mid-septal wall entrainment. Pacing "below" the superior vena cava did not advance the anterior wall electrogram in relation to the septal electrogram. These findings support the concept that common flutter activation turned around (cranial and anterior to) the superior vena cava opening, and not around the free end of a line of block below the superior vena cava in the posterior wall. Common atrial flutter activation rotates cranial (and anterior) to the superior vena cava opening, through the "right atrial roof." The line of functional block should span from inferior to superior vena cava openings.

Adult↗

PubMed1997

[Hypertensive cardiopathy and arrhythmias].

The anatomical and tissue changes caused by hypertension are responsible of the higher incidence of atrial and ventricular arrhythmias as compared to normal population. Hypertension, when associated with atrial fibrillation, becomes an important risk factor for systemic embolism. Atrial dilatation and/or fibrosis because of haemodynamic overload due to left ventricular hypertrophy are the arrhythmic substrate. The higher incidence of ventricular arrhythmias is related to left ventricular hypertrophy. Ventricular premature beats, frequent and/or polymorphic in most of the cases, and short runs are the usual picture. Sustained ventricular tachycardia is seldom documented. The substrate is created by hypertrophy itself, resulting in conduction disturbances favoring reentry. Associated myocardial ischemia plays an important role in the genesis of ventricular arrhythmias. Left ventricular hypertrophy is associated with an increased incidence of total cardiac death and sudden death. Ventricular arrhythmias are suggested to be a poor prognostic factor. The aim of this article is to offer a simplified review of the meaning of cardiac arrhythmias in the hypertensive patient, and to give some clues to the practical approach in the clinical setting.

Arrhythmias, Cardiac↗

PubMed1996

Atrial flutter mapping and ablation. I. Studying atrial flutter mechanisms by mapping and entrainment.

Endocardial mapping has led to a detailed knowledge of reentry mechanisms in atrial flutter. Multipolar and deflecting tip catheters allow recording local electrograms from multiple areas of the right atrium, and from the coronary sinus. In common flutter, with the typical "sawtooth" pattern, there is circular activation of the right atrium in a "counterclockwise" direction, descending in the anterior and lateral walls, and ascending in the septum and posterior wall. Superior and inferior vena cava, linked by a "line" of functional block in the posterolateral wall, make the central obstacle for circular activation. The cranial and caudal turning points are the atrial "roof," and the isthmus between the inferior vena cava and the tricuspid valve. Complex conduction patterns, probably including slow conduction are detectable in the low septal area, around the coronary sinus. Atypical flutter, without the sharp negative deflections of common flutter, sometimes shows circular activation in the right atrium, rotating in the opposite direction of common flutter (clockwise). Other atypical flutters show no circular right atrial activation, and only partial data from coronary sinus activation, combined with the response to atrial stimulation (entrainment) allow the diagnosis of left atrial reentry, without a precise delimitation of the circuits. In patients having undergone cardiac surgery, atypical flutter may be based on reentry around surgical scars. To our knowledge, the mechanism of type II flutter has not been disclosed in humans.

Atrial Flutter↗

PubMed1996

Atrial flutter mapping and ablation II. Radiofrequency ablation of atrial flutter circuits.

The definition of the anatomical substrate of reentry in atrial flutter has allowed the recognition of narrow, critical areas of the circuit, where radiofrequency ablation can interrupt reentry. In common flutter the isthmus between the inferior vena cava and the tricuspid valve appears the best target, but ablation between the coronary sinus and tricuspid valve can also be effective in some cases. In atypical flutter using the same circuit as common flutter in a "clockwise" direction, ablation of the same isthmus is effective. Flutter interruption is the main objective, but it does not mean complete isthmus ablation. If flutter remains inducible, new applications are delivered in the isthmus, until it is made noninducible. Complications are rare. Despite attaining noninducibility, flutter may recur, and new procedures may be needed to prevent recurrence. Atrial fibrillation can occur in up to 30% of the cases during follow-up, but it is generally well controlled with antiarrhythmic drugs, that were ineffective to treat flutter before ablation. In reentry circuits based on surgical atrial scars, ablation of an isthmus between the scar and the inferior vena cava can also be effective. Left atrial circuits are not known well enough to guide successful ablation.

Animals↗

PubMed1996

Radiofrequency ablation of atrial flutter.

Activation mapping in common atrial flutter has shown circular (reentrant) activation of the right atrium around anatomic structures and areas of functional block. The direction of rotation is counterclockwise (in a frontal view), and in the low right atrium the myocardium between the inferior vena cava (IVC) and the tricuspid valve (TV) is critical to close the activation circle. The circuit can be interrupted by radiofrequency ablation of the myocardium between the TV and the IVC, and, in some cases, by ablation between the coronary sinus and TV. Flutter interruption does not mean complete isthmus ablation, as it may remain inducible, requiring further ablation. Despite attaining noninducibility, flutter may recur, and new procedures may be needed for complete ablation. Atrial fibrillation occurs in up to 30% of the cases during follow-up but is generally well controlled with antiarrhythmic drugs that were ineffective in treating flutter before ablation. Some noncommon atrial flutters show circular right atrial activation in a reversed (clockwise) direction, with the same critical areas in the low right atrium, and in these isthmus ablation is effective. Other noncommon flutters have different substrates in the right or left atrium, and mapping has to define specific critical isthmuses as ablation targets in each case. Left atrial flutter circuits remain inaccessible to ablation.

Atrial Fibrillation↗

PubMed1996

[Hemodynamic and electrophysiologic changes in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy].

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is characterized by abnormalities of the myocardium, and the activation and conduction tissues, that may have separate manifestations, but often occur together in complex clinical pictures. The subaortic gradient, although not always present, is the most classical manifestation of the disease, with its typical dynamic behavior, changing with preload, afterload and contractility. In most cases it is due to systolic motion of the mitral valve against the septum in systole, but in a few it is caused by midventricular "constriction". Alteration of diastolic ventricular function is important, and probably the main cause of heart failure, that is usually accompanied by normal systolic function. Mitral insufficiency is common in the obstructive forms, due to the abnormal mitral valve motion, but in some cases it may be due to structural abnormalities of the valve. There may be systolic constriction, or nonatherosclerotic occlusion of the intramyocardial coronary arteries, causing myocardial infarction and ventricular aneurysms, that may lead to systolic dysfunction. The electrocardiogram is rarely normal. Hypertrophy patterns, deeply inverted T waves, deep Q waves, QRS slurring suggestive of WPW syndrome without true preexcitation are the most common manifestations. Rhythm disturbances are common and include sinus node dysfunction, superconductor atrioventricular node or heart block. Atrial fibrillation is frequent and may have catastrophic consequences, including systemic embolism. Non-sustained ventricular arrhythmias are often present, but its predictive value for sudden death is unclear. Monomorphic ventricular tachycardia is infrequent, and programmed stimulation is more likely to precipitate polymorphic ventricular tachycardia of difficult clinical interpretation. Sudden death may be due to multiple mechanisms, and it is difficult to predict and prevent.

Arrhythmias, Cardiac↗

PubMed1996

Radiofrequency catheter ablation of atrial flutter circuits.

Common atrial flutter is due to reentrant activation of the right atrium, rotating around anatomic structures and areas of functional block, in counterclockwise direction in the frontal plane. The myocardium between the inferior vena cava and the tricuspid valve is critical to close the activation circuit, and ablation of this isthmus by catheter-delivered radiofrequency can interrupt flutter, and eventually destroy the circuit, preventing recurrence of the arrhythmia. Flutter interruption does not mean complete isthmus ablation, and the procedure endpoint is to attain flutter non-inducibility, and isthmus block. Despite non-inducibility, flutter may recur, and new procedures may be needed for complete ablation. Atrial fibrillation can occur in up to 35% of the cases during follow-up but is generally well controlled with drugs that were ineffective against flutter before ablation. Some atypical atrial flutters show circular right atrial activation, using the same circuit in a clockwise direction, and these can also be interrupted by ablation of the inferior vena cava-tricuspid valve isthmus. Other atypical flutters can have different anatomic substrates in the right or left atrium, and mapping has to define specific isthmuses as ablation targets in each case. Left atrial flutter remains inaccessible to ablation.

Atrial Flutter↗

PubMed1996

[Pharmacologic maintenance of sinusal rhythm and/or control of the ventricular response in patients with atrial fibrillation or flutter].

Atrial fibrillation is the most common cardiac arrhythmia and is usually responsible for symptoms requiring some treatment. Antiarrhythmic drugs are the first choice therapy, but their potential risks are significant. This together with their limited efficacy restricts their use. Antiarrhythmic drug use should be tailored; mainly according to the underlying heart disease. When reversion to sinus rhythm is not eligible, the adequate control of ventricular rate and the reduction of embolic risk are the therapeutic goals. Atrial flutter shows different behaviour regarding the very limited efficacy of antiarrhythmic drugs for reversion to and maintenance in sinus rhythm.

Anti-Arrhythmia Agents↗