What do you want to learn today?

AFIB RVR on EKG: Management of Atrial Fibrillation

Cardio Critical care ECG Emergency (ER) ICU Med-Surg
Reading time icon Reading time 15 minutes
OFF

Atrial Fibrillation (AFIB) and AFIB RVR are common conditions that you’ll see as a nurse within both inpatient and outpatient settings. These patients are often asymptomatic, but may have severe symptoms and even be unstable, especially with AFIB RVR.

Recognizing AFIB on the monitor/EKG and knowing how to treat it is important as the nurse, as you’ll be on the front line with these patients!

What is Atrial Fibrillation (AFIB)?

Atrial Fibrillation (AF or AFIB) is an “irregularly irregular” arrhythmia that usually occurs in a structurally diseased heart.

AFIB occurs when too many atrial impulses are usually coming from the pulmonary veins, causing rapid fibrillation or “quivering” of both the left and right atria.

Remember, the heart has four chambers: left and right atria on the top and left and right ventricle on the bottom. With AFIB, the top chambers are in a constant state of fibrillation.

During a normal heartbeat, the atria first contract, pushing blood into the ventricles, and the ventricles then pump the blood to the rest of the body. In AFIB, the atria lose this “atrial kick,” leading to ineffective atrial filling and decreased cardiac output, especially at rapid rates.

Cardiac Conduction Review

It is helpful to remember how the cardiac conductions system works to understand what is going on with AFIB.

Remember, the heart has specific electrical conduction tissue, which creates and moves the electrical signal throughout the heart to produce an organized rhythm. This organization lets the heart fill and pump effectively.

Cardiac Conduction System: AFIB RVRThe heart’s pacemaker is the sinus node located in the right atrium. This region of cells creates the “normal” impulse and sends it throughout the atria and then through the AV node. This AV node normally slows the conduction to allow for ventricular filling. The PR interval on the EKG denotes this slowing of the conduction.

Once traveling through the AV node, the impulse goes through the Bundle of His. It splits down the left and right bundle branches towards each ventricle, then through the Purkinje fibers and eventually the ventricles, causing a heartbeat.

In AFIB, rapid-firing comes from the atria, usually where the pulmonary veins meet the left atria. This leads to the quivering of both atria and ineffective atrial filling and atrial kick.

While the AV node does slow down conduction, it can only do so much on its own. With such rapid firing from the atria, many of these impulses want to make it down to the ventricles and cause heartbeats.

As you can imagine, this can lead to very fast heart rates – what we call AFIB RVR or rapid ventricular response.

What is AFIB RVR?

AFIB RVR (Rapid Ventricular Response) occurs due to the frequent electrical impulses from the atria.

The AV node is only able to slow the frequent electrical impulses down so much, so many of the impulses are conducted through to the ventricles, leading to a rapid ventricular response or a fast heart rate >100bpm and often much faster.

Patients with these fast rates are often symptomatic and may become hypotensive. These patients will usually require IV medications to slow down their rate, and possibly even electrical cardioversion (more on that later!).

What Causes AFIB?

AFIB usually occurs in predisposed hearts and is often set off by reversible triggers.

Chronic diseases which predispose the heart to AFIB include:

Atrial Enlargement Image

ATRIAL ENLARGEMENT

Anything causing atrial enlargement such as CHF, Cardiomyopathy, COPD, OSA, obesity

Heart Valve Image

VALVULAR HEART DISEASE

Rheumatic Fever, aortic stenosis, valve replacements, etc

Ischemic Heart Disease Image

ISCHEMIC HEART DISEASE

Coronary artery disease, past or current myocardial infarctions (heart attacks!)

Usually, some reversible trigger throws the patient into AFIB. These reversible triggers include:

Cardiac Surgery Image

SURGICAL PROCEDURES

CABG or heart transplants, usually within the first 2 weeks postop

Pulmonary Embolisms Image

PULMONARY EMBLOLISMS

PEs can cause right atrial heart strain and Increased pulmonary vascular resistance

Alcohol Image

ALCOHOL

Alcoholics and binge-drinking can cause Holiday Heart syndrome, which can occur in 60% of binge drinkers

Drugs Image

DRUGS

Cocaine and amphetamines can increase sympathetic tone and leave the heart predisposed to arrhythmias such as AFIB

Hyperthyroidism Image

HYPERTHYROIDISM

Hyperthyroidism (low TSH) can cause increased sympathetic tone and lead to arrhythmias

Hypomagnesemia Image

HYPOMAGNESEMIA

Low magnesium levels can lead to AFIB, generally levels < 1.5 (check this).

Medications Image

MEDICATIONS

Certain medications can trigger AFIB including Theophylline and adenosine.

Caffeine

Although caffeine is often thought of as contributory to ectopy and AFIB, there is no direct evidence it does trigger AF. However, it is something to consider.

Nursing Assessment of AFIB RVR

SYMPTOMS OF AFIB

Up to 44% of patients with Afib are asymptomatic. Patients with faster rates are more likely to develop symptoms, and those with CHF are more likely to experience hemodynamic instability and severe symptoms (aka low BP and possible code situation).

Some symptoms of AFIB can include:

fatigued icon

Fatigue

Most common complaint

dyspnea icon

DYPNEA

Shortness of breath

diaphoresis icon

DIAPHORESIS

Sweating

dizziness icon

DIZZINESS

Dizziness or lightheadedness

palpitations icon

PALPITATIONS

Fluttering or skipping in their chest, or possibly just feeling their heart pounding

chest pain icon

CHEST PAIN

Chest pressure, pain, or discomfort

syncope icon

SYNCOPE

Loss of consciousness

The Physical Exam

inspection icon

INSPECTION

  • Pallor or flushed
  • Diaphoresis
  • May appear tachypneic

vital signs icon

VITAL SIGNS

  • BP: May be low at fast rates and with poor cardiac output
  • Pulse/HR: Often >100 (RVR)
  • Respirations: Normal or increased
  • SPO2: Usually normal

auscultation icon

AUSCULTATION

  • Lungs: Usually Normal, May have crackles if CHF
  • Heart: Rapid and irregular rate

Identifying AFIB RVR on the ECG

AFIB will NOT have visible P waves. Instead, there will be a fibrillatory baseline. There is no depolarization wave throughout the atria, but rather rapid twitching and many “small” depolarizations, firing at rates 350-600 times per minute.

The QRS complex should be narrow unless an underlying intraventricular conduction delay is present, such as a bundle branch block.

The T waves may be difficult to decipher between the F-wave baseline completely. T wave abnormalities are common, including T wave flattening.

AFIB is irregularly irregular. This means that the R-R interval is continuously changing, and there is no pattern.

AFIB can be at any rate, but faster than 100 is considered AFIB RVR. Without medications to slow it down, rates are usually between 90-170 bpm.

Initial Nursing Interventions

When your patient is in AFIB RVR, you should do the following:

EKG icon

STAT EKG

  • Any patient with cardiac symptoms should get an EKG.
  • Patients with new AFIB should have a 12-lead EKG to confirm the diagnosis.
  • If the patient is at significant fast rates, keep them hooked up to grab another one once the rate improves or the patient converts.

Rhythm icon

CARDIAC MONITORING

  • Patients with any cardiac symptoms should be placed on the cardiac monitor.
  • Those patients with a history of AFIB with normal rates does not necessarily need a cardiac monitor.

Oxygen icon

OXYGEN SUPPORT

  • If the patient is significantly hypoxic or tachypneic, apply 2-4 L/min NC to maintain SPO2 >90%.

IV icon

IV ACCESS

  • Start two peripheral IVs at least 22g, but preferably one at least 20g. If they are in AFIB RVR, they will likely need an IV Cardizem drip and IV heparin in separate lines.
  • If there is a concern for pulmonary embolism or embolic stroke, make sure to place an 18-20g in the AC.
  • While drawing blood, make sure to draw a blue top as PT/INR, PTT, and a D-dimer may be ordered.

Unstable Tachyarrhythmia

Remember that any unstable tachyarrhythmia should follow ACLS guidelines. This means the patient may need electrically cardioverted. If they are unstable (Low BP, impending arrest), then place the defibrillation pads on the patient and hook them up to the defibrillator.

Workup For AFIB RVR

The workup will depend if the patient is in new-onset AF or already has chronic AF and if they are in RVR or not.

Patients with a known history of AFIB who have controlled rates don’t need any specific testing. They are usually on chronic medications to control their heart rates and anticoagulants to prevent blood clots.

Patients with new AFIB or AFIB RVR require more extensive testing, and the workup may depend on their symptoms.

General workup for new AFIB includes:

12-LEAD ECG icon

12-LEAD ECG

AFIB can be diagnosed with this, as well as to look for any other abnormalities such as a STEMI

BASIC LABS icon

BASIC LABS

CBC, CMP, and magnesium will often be checked

ADDITIONAL LABS icon

ADDITIONAL LABS

Coag studies such as PT/INR and PTT, BNP if s/s of heart failure, digoxin level if patient is taking, and a D-dimer may be ordered as well

CXR icon

CXR

If they have any cardiac or pulmonary complaints this should be obtained

CTA icon

CTA

If there is suspicion of a PE. It May also detect atrial thrombi but is not very sensitive

CT HEAD icon

CT HEAD

If any altered mental status or stroke-like s/s

Complications of AFIB

So why do we even care about AFIB? Well, there can be disastrous consequences if we do not treat it appropriately.

UNSTABLE SYMPTOMS icon

UNSTABLE SYMPTOMS

Patients with AFIB have an inadequate atrial filling of blood, as well a loss of the atrial kick which pushes blood from the atria to the ventricles. This decreases cardiac output. When the ventricles have a rapid response, these insufficiencies worsen and can lead to hemodynamic compromise – hypotension, hypoxemia, and eventually cardiac arrest.

WORSENED CHF icon

WORSENED CHF

Patients with Left ventricular dysfunction (aka CHF with a low EF) already have a weak heart. This drop in cardiac output will be more significant, often leading to severe symptoms and an unstable patient!

BLOOD CLOTS icon

BLOOD CLOTS

With the atria quivering – stasis of blood occurs. Remember, stasis of blood is one of the 3 factors that can lead to blood clots (Virchow’s triad). This increases the likelihood of thrombus formation.

A thrombus in the right atria can embolize to the lungs and cause a pulmonary embolism, and a left atrial thrombus can embolize to the brain and cause an embolic stroke.

Both of these are very serious conditions which can lead to disability and death, so prevention of this complication is important.

Treatment of AFIB RVR

Treatment of AFIB differs and depends on the patient’s symptoms and quality of life. This will involve at least one, but possibly all three of the following:

  • Rate control: Control the heart rate with AFIB (preventing RVR)
  • Rhythm Control: Convert and maintain the patient in a normal sinus rhythm
  • Anticoagulation: Giving blood thinners to prevent blood clot formation within the atria

Which the Provider team and Cardiology will ultimately choose treatment options. We’ll dive a little deeper into each of these treatment options.

RATE CONTROL

Rate-control is achieved via medications to slow down the ventricular response to the AFIB. Common medications include Metoprolol, Diltiazem, Digoxin, Esmolol, Amiodarone, and even magnesium sulfate.

For AFIB RVR, we often give the following medications to control the rate:

IV DILTIAZEM icon

IV DILTIAZEM

Also called Cardizem, this is more commonly given for AFIB RVR. The dose is 0.25mg/kg bolus, which is usually around 20mg. This should be pushed over 2 minutes. A repeat bolus of 0.35mg/kg can be given in 15 minutes if rate control is insufficient, and then a patient should be started on a titratable Cardizem drip.

IV METOPROLOL icon

IV METOPROLOL

Also called Lopressor, this is especially helpful if the patient is on a Beta-blocker at home and maybe has missed some doses. The dose is 2.5-5mg IV q5m x 3. Administer the IV push over 2 minutes, and monitor rhythm and blood pressure closely. Use with caution with asthma/COPD exacerbations.

Low BP and RVR

One thing to point out is that those patients with significant left ventricular heart failure and AF RVR may paradoxically improve their blood pressure with rate control, so it still may be wise to administer a low dose of metoprolol or cardizem in these select patients if borderline hypotension is present. Always verify with the Physician/APP.

RHYTHM CONTROL

Rhythm-control is achieved via medications or electrical cardioversion. If the patient is unstable, they will be electrically cardioverted. Otherwise, the cardiologist may choose to start the patient on an antiarrhythmic such as amiodarone, Flecainide, multaq, etc.

Many elderly patients who do not have significant symptoms will not undergo rhythm control. This is ultimately up to the cardiologist.

CHEMICAL CARDIOVERSION icon

CHEMICAL CARDIOVERSION

IV amiodarone can be used, or the cardiologist may choose to start an oral antiarrhythmic such as Amiodarone, Sotalol, Dofetilide, etc.

ELECTRICAL CARDIOVERSION icon

ELECTRICAL CARDIOVERSION

Unstable patients should undergo synchronized cardioversion with the defibrillator.

RADIOFREQUENCY ABLATION icon

RADIOFREQUENCY ABLATION

Patients with frequent symptoms (often younger patients) may undergo an ablation to burn off the area of the heart that is triggering AFIB.

ANTICOAGULATION

Anticoagulation is almost always used in patients with AFIB, unless there is acute bleeding or a significant risk of bleeding.

Anticoagulation is used to prevent thrombus formation which can cause PEs and Strokes as explained above. Within the hospital, anticoagulation will include either:

HEPARIN DRIP icon

HEPARIN DRIP

The Provider will order a titratable heparin drip per facility protocol. This usually will have an initial bolus ordered as well. The patient’s PTT will occasionally be checked and the drip will be adjusted accordingly. Heparin drips offer quickly-reversible anticoagulation in case the patient starts bleeding.

SUBQ LOVENOX icon

SUBQ LOVENOX

SubQ lovenox at a dose of 1mg/kg BID can be given alternatively.

Coumadin

Coumadin is much less commonly prescribed than it used to be because it requires frequent blood checks of INR, as well as dietary changes and medications, can significantly impact its therapeutic levels

Before being discharged, the patient is then transitioned onto an oral anticoagulant such as coumadin, Eliquis, Xarelto, Pradaxa, or ASA/Plavix.

The CHADSVASC score is used to gauge risk for thrombus formation, which factors in age, sex, h/o CHF, HTN, Stroke/TIA/DVT/PE, Vascular disease, or Diabetes. If the patient does not have a high risk of bleeding such as intracranial bleeding, GIB, or frequent falls, then they are usually started on an anticoagulant.

Clinical Pearls

PATIENT SPECIFIC icon

PATIENT SPECIFIC

The workup and treatment will depend on the patient’s symptoms and overall clinical picture. With AFIB, there is no one-size-fits-all approach!

AFIB RVR icon

AFIB RVR

Focus on rate control and anticoagulation! Become familiar with IV Cardizem and titrating a Cardizem drip, as well as IV Lopressor!

UNSTABLE = SHOCK icon

UNSTABLE = SHOCK

Patients who are unstable should be electrically cardioverted with a synchronized shock. Remember to press SYNC, and the dose is 50-100J. These patients will require sedation and pain control (i.e. IV fentanyl).

WANT TO LEARN MORE?

If you want to learn more about cardiac arrhythmias, I have a complete video course “ECG Rhythm Master”, made specifically for nurses which goes into so much more depth and detail.

With this course you will be able to:

  • Identify all cardiac rhythms inside and out
  • Understand the pathophysiology of why and how arrhythmias occur
  • Learn how to manage arrhythmias like an expert nurse
  • Become proficient with emergency procedures like transcutaneous pacing, defibrillation, synchronized shock, and more!

I also include some great free bonuses with the course, including:

  • ECG Rhythm Guide eBook (190 pages!)
  • Code Cart Med Guide (code cart medication guide)
  • Code STEMI (recognizing STEMI on an EKG)

Check out the course!

5 6 votes
Article Rating
8
0
Would love your thoughts, please comment.x
()
x