Pathophysiology of Typical Atrial Flutter

Abstract

Nowadays, the pathophysiology mechanism of initiation and maintenance of reentrant arrhythmias, including atrial flutter, is well characterized. However, the anatomic and functional elements of the macro reentrant arrhythmias are not always well defined. In this article, we illustrate the anatomic structures that delineate the typical atrial flutter circuit, both clockwise and counterclockwise, paying attention to the inferior vena cava-tricuspid isthmus (CTI) and crista terminalis crucial role. Finally, we describe the left atrial role during typical atrial flutter, electrophysiologically a by-stander but essential in the phenotypic electrocardiogram (ECG).

Keywords: By-stander; Catheter ablation; Common and uncommon variants; Crista terminalis; Inferior vena cava-tricuspid isthmus; Reentrant arrhythmias; Right atrium; Typical atrial flutter.