Editing Atrial flutter (section)

===Complications===
Although often regarded as a relatively benign heart rhythm problem, atrial flutter shares the same complications as the related condition [[atrial fibrillation]].  There is a paucity of published data directly comparing the two, but overall mortality in these conditions appears to be very similar.<ref>{{cite journal |vauthors=Vidaillet H, Granada JF, Chyou PH, Maassen K, Ortiz M, Pulido JN | year = 2002 | title = A Population-Based Study of Mortality among Patients with Atrial Fibrillation or Flutter | journal = The American Journal of Medicine | volume = 113 | issue = 5| pages = 365–70 | doi = 10.1016/S0002-9343(02)01253-6 | pmid = 12401530 |display-authors=etal}}</ref>

====Rate-related====
Rapid heart rates may produce significant symptoms in patients with pre-existing heart disease and can lead to [[ischemia|inadequate blood flow to the heart muscle]] and even [[myocardial infarction|a heart attack]].<ref name="Sawhney2009"/>

In rare situations, atrial flutter associated with a fast heart rate persists for an extended period of time without being corrected to a normal heart rhythm and leads to a [[tachycardia-induced cardiomyopathy]].<ref name="Sawhney2009"/> Even in individuals with a normal heart, if the heart beats too quickly for a prolonged period of time, this can lead to ventricular decompensation and heart failure.{{citation needed|date=February 2021}}

====Clot formation====
Because there is little, if any, effective contraction of the [[atrium (anatomy)|atria]], there is stasis (pooling) of blood in the atria.  Stasis of blood in susceptible individuals can lead to the formation of a [[thrombus]] (blood clot) within the heart. A thrombus is most likely to form in the [[Atrium (heart)|atrial appendages]]. A blood clot in the left atrial appendage is particularly important as the left side of the heart supplies blood to the entire body through the arteries. Thus, any thrombus material that dislodges from this side of the heart can [[embolism|embolize (break off and travel)]] to the brain's arteries, with the potentially devastating consequence of a [[stroke]]. Thrombus material can embolize to any other portion of the body, though usually with a less severe outcome.<ref>{{cite journal |url= https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10979012/| title= Risk of thromboembolism in acute atrial fibrillation or atrial flutter | journal= Echocardiography | year= 2000 | pmid= 10979012 |access-date= 3 July 2021| last1= Stoddard | first1= M. F. | volume= 17 | issue= 4 | pages= 393–405 | doi= 10.1111/j.1540-8175.2000.tb01155.x | s2cid= 20652213 }}</ref>

====Sudden cardiac death====
Sudden death is not directly associated with atrial flutter.  However, in individuals with a pre-existing accessory conduction pathway, such as the [[Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome#Bundle of Kent|bundle of Kent]] in [[Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome]], the accessory pathway ''may'' conduct activity from the atria to the ventricles at a rate that the AV node would usually block.  Bypassing the AV node, the atrial rate of 300 beats/minute leads to a ventricular rate of 300 beats/minute (1:1 conduction).  Even if the ventricles are able to sustain a cardiac output at such a high rate, 1:1 flutter with time may degenerate into [[ventricular fibrillation]], causing hemodynamic collapse and [[death]].<ref>{{cite journal |url= https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK507854/ | title= Sudden Cardiac Death | website= National Center for Biotechnology Information, U.S. National Library of Medicine | year= 2023 | pmid= 29939631 |access-date= 3 July 2021 | last1= Yow | first1= A. G. | last2= Rajasurya | first2= V. | last3= Sharma | first3= S. }}</ref>