Coarse atrial fibrillation on ECG

Coarse atrial fibrillation on ECG

Coarse atrial fibrillation
Coarse AF

Atrial fibrillation is recognized on ECG by the absence of P waves and presence of fibrillary waves. Sometimes fibrillary waves may be quite fine so as to be almost unrecognizable in certain leads. In such cases, absence of P waves and a totally irregular RR interval will give the clue to the presence of underlying atrial fibrillation. It may be difficult to recognize the irregularity of RR interval when the ventricular rate is fast, especially in a short ECG strip. Looking at a long rhythm strip and close scrutiny of RR intervals to locate 50% variation between the longest and shortest RR intervals is useful in clinching the diagnosis of atrial fibrillation in such cases. In this ECG the diagnosis of atrial fibrillation (AF) is not difficult because the fibrillary waves are coarse and easily visible in leads V1 and V2. Coarse AF indicates atrial enlargement. Such types of atrial fibrillation is likely to be persistent unless the cause of atrial dilatation is reversible with an intervention like balloon mitral valvotomy. Coarse AF can also mimic atrial flutter. Hence some even call it as flitter or flutter-fibrillation [1].

A study of 811 patients by Yilmaz MB et al [2] noted that those with coarse AF was more associated with cerebrovascular events than fine AF. They also noted that patients with fine AF was significantly older than those with coarse AF.

Some authors found a single macro re-entrant circuit in the right atrium in cases of coarse AF. But a randomized multicentre trial [3] failed to show any advantage for cavo-tricuspid isthmus ablation over external cardioversion in maintaining sinus rhythm in the treatment of coarse atrial fibrillation.

Though it has been generally mentioned that coarse atrial fibrillation correlates with the size of the left atrium as well as the etiology, one study did not document the correlation of f waves (fibrillary waves) with left atrial size [4]. But the study showed that coarse f waves were seen more often than fine waves in rheumatic heart disease.

In addition to coarse atrial fibrillation, this ECG also shows lateral ST segment depression and T wave inversion in inferior leads. QRS axis is a bit rightward. R wave progression in poor in leads V1-V3.

References

  1. Leier CV, Schaal SF. Biatrial electrograms during coarse atrial fibrillation and flutter-fibrillation. Am Heart J. 1980 Mar;99(3):331-41.
  2. Yilmaz MB, Guray Y, Guray U, Cay S, Caldir V, Biyikoglu SF, Sasmaz H, Korkmaz S. Fine vs. coarse atrial fibrillation: which one is more risky? Cardiology. 2007;107(3):193-6.
  3. Gupta D, Earley MJ, Haywood GA, Richmond L, Fitzgerald M, Kojodjojo P, Sporton SC, Peters NS, Broadhurst P, Schilling RJ. Can atrial fibrillation with a coarse electrocardiographic appearance be treated with catheter ablation of the tricuspid valve-inferior vena cava isthmus? Results of a multicentre randomised controlled trial. Heart. 2007 Jun;93(6):688-93.
  4. Aberg H. Atrial fibrillation. II. A study of fibrillatory wave size on the regular scalar electrocardiogram. Acta Med Scand. 1969 May;185(5):381-5.