A Fib

HOME A Fib Acute Pericarditis CHF Complete heart block HTN PE Pericardial tamponade GOUT Hypothyroidism DKA Urosepsis About

  • A FIB
  • Order physical exam
  • Results:
  • Order 1
  • Pulse oximetry, stat
  • IV access
  • 12 lead EKG, stat
  • Results:
  • Order 2
  • Admit to floor/ward
  • Telemetry
  • Vitals Q 4 hours
  • Pulse oximetry Q4 hours
  • Order 'old records'
  • Diet: Consistent carbohydrate diet
  • Activity: Bed rest with bathroom privileges
  • Labs:
  • HbA1C, stat
  • Accuchecks QID(4 times a day)
  • 2D-echo, routine
  • Meds:
  • Continue all home medications:
  • ASA 81mg po qd,
  • Simvastatin 20 po qhs,
  • lisinopril 5 mg po qd,
  • SL NTG prn,
  • glyburide 5 mg po QD,
  • metformin 850 mg po bid,
  • albuterol prn,
  • and acetaminophen with codeine for osteoarthritis
  • Start Cardizem (diltiazem), IV drip,
  • Start Heparin, IV, continuous
  • PTT every 6 hours
  • Daily CBC with diff
  • Call me when lab results available
  • Order 3
  • Urine culture and sensitivity
  • Bactrim PO QD (TMP-SMZ)
  • Examine the patient in 2 hours
  • After 2 hours
  • Interim history
  • Monitor telemetry strip: HR is now 90-100/min; patient is still in atrial fibrillation
  • Repeat EKG: HR is now 90-100/min; patient is still in atrial fibrillation.
  • Call me when needed.
  • Examine the patient in next 6 hours
  • Again order interim history and monitor telemetry strip
  • Once the HR is less than 80
  • D/C Cardizem drip
  • Start Cardizem PO, continuous
  • Next day
  • Start Coumadin po continuous
  • Daily PT/INR
  • Examine next day:
  • Check CBC, PT/INR, telemetry strip
  • Once the PT/INR is above 2.0, D/C IV heparin
  • Discharge the patient
  • Patient education
  • Out patient followup in 3 days with repeat CBC, PT/INR
  • Discussion:
  • In unstable patients DC cardioversion
  • Rhythm control
  • commonly used drugs dofetilide, ibutilide
  • left ventricular dysfunction Amiodarone
  • maintenance therapy amiodarone or sotalol
  • Rate control are beta-blockers, calcium channel blockers, and digoxin
  • anticoagulation
  • When should I admit a patient with AF?
  • Searching for the underlying cause: