In atrial flutter, the typical EKG pattern seen in leads II, III, and aVF is described as:

In atrial flutter, the typical EKG pattern seen in leads II, III, and aVF is described as:

• A. Sawtooth flutter waves
• B. Tall T waves
• C. Delta waves
• D. U waves

Answer: (A)

In atrial flutter, the atria beat very rapidly in a reentrant circuit, producing a regular, sawtooth pattern of atrial depolarizations between the QRS complexes. Those flutter waves are typically best seen in the inferior leads (II, III, and aVF) because the direction of atrial activation toward the heart’s inferior wall makes the flutter waves more conspicuous there. This sawtooth appearance is the hallmark distinguishing flutter from the other patterns listed. Tall T waves, delta waves, and U waves indicate other conditions (such as hyperkalemia, pre-excitation, or electrolyte effects) and don’t describe the atrial activity seen in atrial flutter.

In atrial flutter, the atria beat very rapidly in a reentrant circuit, producing a regular, sawtooth pattern of atrial depolarizations between the QRS complexes. Those flutter waves are typically best seen in the inferior leads (II, III, and aVF) because the direction of atrial activation toward the heart’s inferior wall makes the flutter waves more conspicuous there. This sawtooth appearance is the hallmark distinguishing flutter from the other patterns listed. Tall T waves, delta waves, and U waves indicate other conditions (such as hyperkalemia, pre-excitation, or electrolyte effects) and don’t describe the atrial activity seen in atrial flutter.