Atrial fibrillation differential diagnosis

Overview
Atrial fibrillation must be distinguished from other common atrial arrhythmias. These include:


 * Atrial flutter
 * Atrial tachycardia
 * Atrioventricular nodal reentry tachycardia (AVNRT)
 * Multifocal atrial tachycardia
 * Paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia
 * Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome

Diagnosis

 * Atrial fibrillation is irregularly irregular, while the other rhythms such as atrial flutter, sinus tachycardia, AV nodal reentry tachycardia in paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia are all much more regular.
 * An atrioventricular nodal reentry tachycardia will often break with either carotid sinus massage or AV nodal blocking agents.
 * If the patient has Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome there may be much more rapid conduction.