Atrial Fibrillation Research Paper
Atrial Fibrillation
Columbia Basin College
Table of Contents
Table of Contents…………………………………...………………….………………………….2
Condition….………………...…………………………………………………………………….3
Predisposing Factors………………………………………………………………………………3
Onset and Duration………………………………………………….……………………….....…3
Signs and Symptoms……………………………………………………………………………....4
Diagnostic Tests…..……………………………………………………………………………….4
Therapies and Pertinent Medications……………………………………………………………..5
Surgical and Medical Treatments…………………………………………………………………6
Prognosis…………………………………………………………………………………………..6
Summary and Conclusion…………………………………………………………………………7
References…………………………………………………………………………………………8
Atrial Fibrillation Atrial Fibrillation (AF) is the leading arrhythmia disorder to affect the aging population. It affects approximately 2.3 million in the United States (Seifert, Collins & Ad, 2007). Atrial Fibrillation is defined as rapid and irregular atrial contractions that result in ineffective emptying of the atria. The two upper chambers (atria) beat out of sync with the two lower chambers (ventricles). This ineffective rhythm and ineffective emptying causes decreased cardiac output and stasis of blood. The stasis that results can cause harmful clots to pool in the atria putting patients at risk for thromboembolic stroke, pulmonary embolus, or renal embolus. An estimated 15% to 25% of strokes are associated with AF (Hardin & Steele, 2008).
Predisposing Factors Several factors place patients at risk for AF. A history of hypertension and/or coronary heart disease seems to be the most common underlying cause of AF. There are also various medical co-morbidities that will also place a patient at higher risk for AF for example; hyperthyroidism, anemia, infection, COPD and persistent myocardial ischemia (Walling, Spain & Edlund, 2011). Hardin and Steele (2008) found that the prevalence of AF increases with age and is more common in men than in women. As the population continues to
Columbia Basin College
Table of Contents
Table of Contents…………………………………...………………….………………………….2
Condition….………………...…………………………………………………………………….3
Predisposing Factors………………………………………………………………………………3
Onset and Duration………………………………………………….……………………….....…3
Signs and Symptoms……………………………………………………………………………....4
Diagnostic Tests…..……………………………………………………………………………….4
Therapies and Pertinent Medications……………………………………………………………..5
Surgical and Medical Treatments…………………………………………………………………6
Prognosis…………………………………………………………………………………………..6
Summary and Conclusion…………………………………………………………………………7
References…………………………………………………………………………………………8
Atrial Fibrillation Atrial Fibrillation (AF) is the leading arrhythmia disorder to affect the aging population. It affects approximately 2.3 million in the United States (Seifert, Collins & Ad, 2007). Atrial Fibrillation is defined as rapid and irregular atrial contractions that result in ineffective emptying of the atria. The two upper chambers (atria) beat out of sync with the two lower chambers (ventricles). This ineffective rhythm and ineffective emptying causes decreased cardiac output and stasis of blood. The stasis that results can cause harmful clots to pool in the atria putting patients at risk for thromboembolic stroke, pulmonary embolus, or renal embolus. An estimated 15% to 25% of strokes are associated with AF (Hardin & Steele, 2008).
Predisposing Factors Several factors place patients at risk for AF. A history of hypertension and/or coronary heart disease seems to be the most common underlying cause of AF. There are also various medical co-morbidities that will also place a patient at higher risk for AF for example; hyperthyroidism, anemia, infection, COPD and persistent myocardial ischemia (Walling, Spain & Edlund, 2011). Hardin and Steele (2008) found that the prevalence of AF increases with age and is more common in men than in women. As the population continues to
References: Deglin, J. H., Vallerand, A. H., & Sanoski, C. A. (2010). Davis 's drug guide for nurses. (12th Ed.) Hardin, S., & Steele, J. (2008). Atrial fibrillation among older adults. Journal of Gerontological nursing, 34(7), 26-33 Lip, G., & Hung-Fat, T. (2007). Management of atria fibrillation. The Lancet, 370(9587), 604- 618 Pamukcu, B., Lane, D., & Lip, G. (2010). The assessment of stroke and bleeding risk in atrial fibrillation: Where are we now? Seifert, P., Collins, J., & Ad, N. (2007). Surgery for atrial fibrillation. AORN Journal, 86(1), 23- 44 Walling, J., Spain, M., & Edlund, B. (2011). Anticoagulation therapy in older adults newly diagnosed with atrial fibrillation