Etymed
atrial fibrillation
Definition
irregular and rapid beating of the atria of the heart
Clinical context
A 65-year-old man presents to the emergency department with palpitations, shortness of breath, and chest discomfort. On examination, his pulse is irregularly irregular and his blood pressure is 102/68. An ECG reveals absent P waves with chaotic fibrillatory waves and an irregularly irregular rhythm. The patient is at risk for thromboembolic events due to stasis of blood in the fibrillating atria.
Mnemonic
A-Fib = 'Atrial Fibrillation' - Think 'A' for 'Absent' P-waves and 'Fib' for 'Fibrillatory waves' creating an irregularly irregular rhythm