Signs and Symptoms
Common signs and symptoms include palpitations, fatigue, chest pain, dyspnea, dizziness/lightheadedness, nausea, diaphoresis, malaise, polyuria, presyncope, and rarely, syncope.[3,14] However, the patient may be asymptomatic, with increased risk of morbidity and mortality due to the unrecognized presence of these arrhythmias. Atrial contraction against a closed AV valve causes increased atrial pressures with subsequent release of atrial natriuretic peptide, resulting in polyuria.[14]
Rapid ventricular rates which commonly occur with AF may cause or exacerbate myocardial ischemia (thereby predisposing the patient to a sustained ventricular tachyarrhythmia), or induce or worsen heart failure (tachycardia-mediated cardiomyopathy).[9,14]
Prog Cardiovasc Nurs. 2005;20(1):24-31. © 2005 Le Jacq Communications, Inc.
© 2007 Prog Cardiovasc Nurs
Cite this: Supraventricular Arrhythmias: An Electrophysiology Primer - Medscape - Mar 01, 2005.
