Atrial Fibrillation
Approach
- Ask permission to take radial pulse / carotid pulse
- Rate, rhythm
- Character and and volume determined from carotid pulse
- Often easier to use thumb to palpate carotid pulse
Causes: ARTHRIMICS
- Alcohol, atrial myxoma
- Rheumatic valve disease
- Ischaemia
- Thyroid disease
- Hypertension
- MI
- Infection - penumonia, endocarditis
- C - cardiomyopathy
- S - sarcoidosis
Complications of AF
- Embolic stroke (4% per year)
- Need for anticoagulation
