CONVERSION OF ATRIAL FLUTTER INTO ATRIAL FIBRILLATION BY CAROTID PRESSURE
Authors: R BUSSAN, E R REID, D SCHERF
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (1957)

Case Reports1 April 1957CONVERSION OF ATRIAL FLUTTER INTO ATRIAL FIBRILLATION BY CAROTID PRESSUREROBERT BUSSAN, EDITH R. REID, DAVID SCHERF, F.A.C.P.ROBERT BUSSANSearch for more papers by this author, EDITH R. REIDSearch for more papers by this author, DAVID SCHERF, F.A.C.P.Search for more papers by this authorAuthor, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-46-4-814 SectionsAboutPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail ExcerptExperimentally, vagus stimulation commonly causes atrial flutter to convert to fibrillation. This phenomenon has been studied in detail by Lewis,4 using electrical stimulation of the atria to produce flutter, and by Scherf, who uses the simpler and more dependable method of topical application of aconitine.6, 7However, the usual response of atrial flutter in man to carotid sinus or ocular pressure is that of an increase in the atrioventricular block; no change is observed in the auricular rate.1, 3Only on rare occasions has it been reported that the rate of the flutter has been accelerated. Wilson9reported the first...Bibliography1. Barker JM: Electrocardiogram—a clinical interpretation, 1952, Appleton-Century-Crofts, Inc., New York. Google Scholar2. Bellet S: Diagnosis and treatment of cardiac arrhythmias, M. Clin. North America 30: 1307, 1946. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar3. Friedberg CK: Diseases of the heart, 1950, W. B. Saunders Company, Philadelphia. Google Scholar4. LewisDruryBulger TANHA: Flutter and fibrillation; the effects of vagal stimulation, Heart 8: 141, 1921. Google Scholar5. Scherf D: Versuche zur Theorie des Vorhofflatterns und Vorhofflimmerns, Ztschr. f. d. ges. exper. Med. 61: 30, 1928. CrossrefGoogle Scholar6. ScherfBlumenfeldMuellerBeinfield DSPWR: On the response of ectopic tachycardias to vagus stimulation, Am. Heart J. 45: 95, 1953. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar7. ScherfRomanoTerranova DFJR: Experimental studies on auricular flutter and auricular fibrillation, Am. Heart J. 36: 241, 1948. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar8. ScherfSchafferBlumenfeld DAIS: Mechanism of flutter and fibrillation, Arch. Int. Med. 91: 333, 1953. CrossrefGoogle Scholar9. Wilson FN: Report of a case of auricular flutter in which vagus stimulation was followed by an increase in the rate of the circus rhythm, Heart 11: 61, 1924. Google Scholar This content is PDF only. To continue reading please click on the PDF icon. Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAffiliations: *Received for publication November 30, 1955.From the Department of Medicine, New York Medical College, Metropolitan Hospital Division.†Aided by a grant from Mr. Hans Petschek.‡Trainees of the National Heart Institute.Requests for reprints should be addressed to David Scherf, M.D., New York Medical College, 1 East 105th Street, New York 29, N. Y. PreviousarticleNextarticle Advertisement FiguresReferencesRelatedDetails Metrics Cited byThe relationship of carotid sinus stimulation to exercise testingUnusually Rapid Atrial Rate in a Patient with Thyrotoxicosis and Atrial FlutterConversion of atrial flutter to atrial fibrillation with carotid sinus pressureElectrocardiographic patterns at the termination of atrial flutterThe Circus Movement (Entrapped Circuit Wave) Hypothesis and Atrial FlutterDAVID A. RYTAND, M.D., F.A.C.P.Excitatory effects of carotid sinus pressureMode of onset of atrial fibrillation in man 1 April 1957Volume 46, Issue 4Page: 814-818KeywordsAtrial fibrillationElectrocardiographyHeartHospital medicine ePublished: 1 December 2008 Issue Published: 1 April 1957 PDF downloadLoading ...