Multifocal Atrial Tachycardia

Question: define MAT(multifocal atrial tachycardia) including ECG findings.What is Atrial premature contraction? DEfine Multifocal Atrial tachycardia&atrial premature contraction.Explain ECG findings(both of them) in simpleway.

Answer: Multifocal atrial tachycardia (MAT) is an irregular cardiac rhythm caused by at least 2 different sites of competing atrial activity. ECG findings showan irregular rapid tachycardia, usually narrow-complex. It is often confused with atrial flutter or fibrillation. It usually does not cause hemodynamic instability It is usually caused by hypoxia in the elderly with other resp. conditions. It usually resolves itself once the hypoxia is corrected. Hope this helps. A premature atrial contraction means that the impulse to cause the beat started somewhere in the right atrium of the heart, but not in the SA node. It may have a smaller PRI interval on the ECG and will come earlier in the cardiac cycle.

Question: What medications are used for MAT (multifocal atrial tachycardia?

Answer: Usually calcium channel blockers such as Verapamil, Diltiazem (Cardizem). Beta blockers are occassionally used, but a lot of patients with MAT are people with chronic lung problems such as COPD or emphysema. In those cases, some MDs are less likely to use such medication because of possible bronchospasm. I think if the above doesn't work, then they look at anti-arrythmics such as Amiodarone.

Question: give the ECG tracing of MAT(Multifocal atrial Tachycardia).? give the ECG tracing of MAT(Multiple atrial Tachycardia)&explain indetails.

Answer: 1)Rate= 100-250/bpm 2)P wave = two or more ectopic P waves with different morphologies 3)QRS = normal 4)Conduction= P-R intervals vary 5)Rhythm = irregular Multifocal atrial tachycardia (MAT) may resemble atrial fibrillation or flutter. It almost always occurs in seriously ill, elderly individuals. COPD is the most common underlying cause. Medical/Legal Pitfalls: * Treating MAT as atrial flutter or fibrillation * Treating MAT with aberrancy as ventricular tachycardia * Utilizing cardioversion or defibrillation when not indicated * Failure to simultaneously correct hypokalemia when giving magnesium sulfate * Failure to address the underlying medical problem; becoming distracted by the cardiac rhythm * Discharging patients without adequately treating underlying medical problems.