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What do elevated F-waves on an ECG indicate?

Normal sinus rhythm

Atrial flutter

Elevated F-waves on an ECG are indicative of atrial flutter, a type of supraventricular tachycardia characterized by rapid reentrant circuits in the atria. In atrial flutter, the atria contract at a rate that is typically between 240 to 340 beats per minute, leading to a distinctive "sawtooth" pattern of F-waves commonly referred to as "F-waves" that can be observed in the inferior leads (II, III, aVF) on an electrocardiogram. This abnormal electrical activity can result in decreased atrial filling time and potentially lead to reduced cardiac output, along with increasing the risk of thrombus formation due to inadequate atrial contraction.

In contrast, normal sinus rhythm does not exhibit elevated F-waves, as it presents with a regular rhythm and a clear P-wave for each QRS complex. Ventricular tachycardia is characterized by abnormal ventricular rhythms and does not typically present with F-waves. Atrioventricular block involves a disruption in the conduction between the atria and ventricles, leading to dropped beats or prolonged PR intervals, rather than the rapid atrial activity seen in atrial flutter. Thus, elevated F-waves are strongly

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Ventricular tachycardia

Atrioventricular block

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