Atrial flutter is a type of supraventricular tachycardia that most commonly occurs in the presence of structural heart disease and results in the conduction of rapid atrial impulses to the ventricles. An understanding of the pathophysiology of atrial flutter and an ability to identify key ECG features will assist paramedics in accurately differentiating atrial flutter from other forms of SVT and allow paramedics to provide appropriate and safe management of their patients. In this course, you will examine the pathophysiology of atrial flutter and the mechanism that underlies this type of SVT. You will identify key features of atrial flutter on the ECG and learn how to differentiate it from other types of SVT.

This course is part of our advanced cardiology series aimed at advanced clinicians such as MICA Paramedics, HARU Paramedics, Critical Care Paramedics, and Intensive Care Paramedics.

By the end of this course, you should be able to:

1. Examine the pathophysiology of atrial flutter and identify the re-entry mechanism of this re-entry tachycardia
2. Describe the difference between typical and atypical flutter
3. Interpret key ECG features and differentiate between clockwise, counterclockwise, and atypical atrial flutter
4. Apply your knowledge of the pathophysiology of atrial flutter to examine the patient's presentation of atrial flutter.