Certified Cardiographic Technician (CCT) Practice exam

Atrial flutter is characterized by a distinctive pattern on the electrocardiogram (ECG) known as "sawtooth" waves, specifically referred to as "F-waves." These F-waves represent the rapid and organized electrical activity occurring in the atria, typically at rates between 240 to 340 beats per minute. The sawtooth appearance usually manifests in the inferior leads (II, III, and aVF) and is a hallmark feature that helps differentiate atrial flutter from other arrhythmias. Understanding this pattern is crucial for accurate diagnosis and management, as it indicates a specific type of atrial re-entry circuit that revolves around the tricuspid valve in the right atrium.

Other arrhythmias, such as atrial fibrillation, exhibit chaotic and irregular waves without the distinct sawtooth pattern; instead, they demonstrate an absence of coordinated P waves. Ventricular fibrillation presents as a rapid and chaotic electrical activity that is not organized into waves, leading to a lack of effective cardiac output. Sinus tachycardia, on the other hand, shows normal sinus rhythm with an increased heart rate but without any abnormal waveforms resembling the "sawtooth" pattern seen in atrial flutter.