What does the EKG of atrial flutter typically resemble?

What does the EKG of atrial flutter typically resemble?

• A. Sawtooth pattern of identical flutter waves
• B. Irregularly spaced complexes
• C. Randomly shaped spikes
• D. Flat line with occasional peaks

Answer: (A)

The EKG of atrial flutter is characterized by a distinctive sawtooth pattern of identical flutter waves. This pattern is most commonly referred to as "F-waves" or flutter waves, and they appear in a uniform and repetitive manner. The typical rate of atrial flutter can range from 240 to 340 beats per minute, and the sawtooth appearance is particularly evident in leads II, III, and aVF.

This wave pattern arises from rapid reentrant circuits typically found in the right atrium, creating the characteristic forking shape seen between the QRS complexes. The flutter waves can often lead to a "sawtooth" appearance when viewed on an EKG, particularly during the acute phase of the arrhythmia.

Other options describe characteristics that do not accurately represent atrial flutter. For example, irregular spacing of complexes would more typically be associated with atrial fibrillation rather than flutter. Randomly shaped spikes would not align with the organized waveform seen in atrial flutter, and a flat line with occasional peaks does not correlate to the active electrical activity that characterizes atrial flutter. Thus, the sawtooth pattern of identical flutter waves is the hallmark of atrial flutter on an EKG, making it the correct description