What is Auricular Fibrillation?

Question

What is Auricular Fibrillation?

What is the process/mechanism?

Answer 1

It is essentially an auricular disturbance due to multiple ectopic foci causing an absolutely irregular ventricular response affecting the pulse in its rate,rhythm & volume so that no two beats are equal.That is why this condition is also called delirium cordis, i.e., heart in a state of delirium.

Mechanism :-

1.Focal irritation with discharge.
2.Re-entry or reciprocal mechanism.
Circus movement & Prinzmetal's theory were put forward to explain this cardiac arrhythmia.The auricular pulsation varies from 400 to 600 per minute but the ventricles only respond to about 80
to 180 beats per minute;while the pulse beat varies from 100 to 120 per minute,therefore a pulse deficit always exists(usually more than 20 per min)

Answer 2

Auricular fibrillation is the same as atrial fibrillation. It is a heart arrhythmia- where the heart beat does not beat at a normal pace or rate.

Atrial arrhythmia is diagnosed as rapid and random contractions of areas inside the atrium of the heart, which cause totally irregular and often very rapid, ventricular heart rate. It sometimes needs an electrically given shock to return the heart back to normal and much slower heart rate.

Atrial fibrillation (often called A-fib) can affect both men and women. The number of people with atrial fibrillation increases with age. It varies from 1 case out of 200 persons for people younger than about 60 years to almost 1% of the population in people over 80 years of age.

It is a serious disorder and needs the attention of a doctor. The long-term treatment varies on the cause of the atrial fibrillation. Medication may include beta-blockers, calcium channel blockers, digitalis or other medications which work to slow the heartbeat.

Other medications can also include blood thinners like the commonly used heparin or coumadin, to reduce the risk of a blocked artery event such as a stroke.

Answer 3

Auricular fibrillation means the inability of the upper chambers (Auricles or Atriums) of the heart to contract effectively and there by setting premature contractions. This is due to a faulty transmission of electrical impulse from the SA Node(Sino-Atrial Node). The heart to function normally depends entirely on this electrical impulse from the SA Node which spreads In a uniform manner to the Atria and Ventricles. The abnormality in such conditions is called conduction defect. When such condion affects the Ventricle, it creats serous problems and the patient usually requres pacing(implantation of a pace maker on the anterior chest wall. The common symptoms of Auricular and ventricular fibrillation are Dizziness, Fainting attacks and Palpitation.

Answer 4

That is another term for atrial fibrillation, which is an arrhythmia or abnormal heart rhythm. A normal heart rhythm consists of a 1:1 ratio of atrial contraction followed by ventricular contraction.

Atrial fibrillation (or "a-fib") occurs when the muscles in the atria of the heart contract out-of-sync with one another, leading to several atrial contractions for one ventricular contraction. This occurs for several reasons, but it occurs most commonly in the elderly (10% over age 80 have it) as a result of previous heart disease.

The symptoms of new cases of a-fib include palpitations or a racing heart, shortness of breath, dizziness and passing out, as well as irregular pulses.

The major complication for a-fib are clots that form in the atria, which then can travel to the blood vessels in the brain, causing a stroke. Syncope, or passing out, can occur as well because there can be underfilling of blood, leading to poor blood pumping to the rest of the body, ie low blood pressure.

New cases need to be seen right away in the emergency room.

People who have had a-fib for a long time either have 'chronic' a-fib or 'paroxysmal' a-fib. Paroyxsmal means that it does not occur frequently, whereas chronic means that it occurs pretty constantly. Drug treatment is centered around either controlling the rate (with drugs like beta blockers) or changing the rhythm back to the normal rhythm (or cardioversion, usually with amiodarone). More permanent treatment requires an implanted pacemaker.

Again, talk to your doctor or call 911 if you suspect someone close to you has a new case of a-fib.