A 63 years old man presents to your OPD with complaints of palpitations and light headedness since 6 hours.

A 63 years old man presents to your OPD with complaints of palpitations and light headedness since 6 hours. According to his attendant, he sometimes gets such episodes and becomes restless and confused during these episodes.

BP is 156/70 mmHG.

You find he has an irregular pulse.

JVP is normal.

No peripheral oedema is present

You perform an ECG which is given

below:

1. What are the ECG findings

2. What is the most likely Diagnosis?

3. What are the causes of this condition?

4 . What are the complications of this condition?

5. How would you manage this patient?

Answers given in comments section.

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Answers :

1. ECG Findings : Absent p waves , Bizarre f waves.

2. Most likely Diagnosis:

Atrial fibrillation with Rapid Ventricular Rate

3. Causes of this condition :

Idiopathic

Hypertension

Old Age

Excessive caffeine

Pericarditis

Myocarditis

Atherosclerosis

4. Complications of Atrial fibrillation:

Blood clots and venous thromboembolism

Stroke

Cardiac arrest

Heart failure

5. Management:

Giving patients anticoagulation to prevent clot formation

Cardioversion, Chemical with Amiodarone if BP stable and Electrical if pt is confused or low BP.