How Is Atrial Flutter Treated?
Medications may be used to treat some patients with atrial flutter.
Medications such as beta-blocking agents such as atenolol, metoprolol,
or carvedilol, calcium channel blocking agents such as diltiazem or
verapamil, or digoxin may be used to decrease the number of beats that
travel from the atria to the ventricles, thus, decreasing the
ventricular heart rate. In addition, some patients may benefit from
medications that stabilize the atria. These medications, called
anti-arrhythmic agents, include sotalol, dofetilide, propafenone,
flecainide, dronedarone, or amiodarone. The choice of the medication
depends on the presence of heart problems, blockages in the arteries
to heart, and other factors. In some cases, an electrical shock to
the chest, called cardioversion, is used to convert the rhythm to
normal. As an alternative to these medications, a technique called
catheter ablation may be used to prevent atrial flutter, usually
without the need for medications. In most patients, there is specific
path that the electrical signal takes with the atria that is
responsible for the atrial flutter. In most cases, there is a specific
path or alley-way that is necessary for the atrial flutter to
continue. In such cases, creating a series of energy deliveries that
kill islands of cells responsible for conducting the electrical
signals may prevent atrial flutter. Catheter ablation for atrial
flutter in most patients is effective in over 80-90% of cases. Some
patients with atrial flutter may develop atrial fibrillation in the future.
In some cases, particularly patients with prior heart surgery or
catheter ablation, there may be multiple electrical pathways.
Frequently patients with atrial flutter will be treated with
anticoagulation with warfarin to prevent blood clots and stroke.
Learn more about arrhythmia
