Atrial Fibrillation

Question 1

What is AF?

Answer 1

Chaotic irregular rhythm with an irregular ventricular rate

Question 2

What does an AF ECG look like?

Answer 2

No P waves, irregular line, irregularly irregular QRS

Question 3

What can cause AF?

Answer 3

Idiopathic, HTN, HF, coronary artery disease, valvular heart disease, cardiac surgery, cardiomyopathy

Question 4

What are risk factors for AF?

Answer 4

Over 60, DM, HTN, coronary artery disease, past MI, structural heart disease

Question 5

How does AF present?

Answer 5

Asymptomatic, palpitations, dyspnoea, chest pains, fatigue

Question 6

How do you manage acute AF?

Answer 6

DC cardioversion, LWMH, shock with defibrillator

Question 7

What anticoagulation is available for chronic AF?

Answer 7

DOAC or warfarin

Question 8

What rate control is available for chronic AF?

Answer 8

Beta-blocker or rate-limiting calcium blocker are first line, digoxin second

Question 9

What rhythm control is available for chronic AF?

Answer 9

Elective DC cardioversion, elective pharmacological cardioversion

Question 10

What is first line pharmacological cardioversion?

Answer 10

Flecainide

Question 11

What scoring system is used to calculate stroke risk in patients with AF?

Answer 11

CHADS-VASc

Question 12

What does CHADS-VASc stand for?

Answer 12

Congestive HF
Hypertension
Age >75
Diabetes
Stroke/TIA/Thromboembolism
Vascular disease
Age
Sex category