Focal Atrial Tachycardia
Atrial tachycardia can arise from a focal atrial source; mechanisms may include automaticity, triggered activity, or microreentry depending on the tachycardia.
1. What might the surface ECG tell us?
P-wave morphology and atrial rate/relationship to the QRS can provide localization and mechanism clues.
2. What might we see intracardially?
Intracardiac atrial activation identifies where activation appears earliest relative to other atrial sites.
Technologist mindset
Describe the sequence before naming the mechanism. Ask what is earliest, what follows, whether atrial and ventricular activation are linked, and whether the pattern changes with pacing.
3. Pacing clues
Induction behavior and responses to pacing may help distinguish focal AT from AV node–dependent tachycardias.
4. Mapping concept
Activation mapping seeks the earliest consistent atrial activation and interprets it in anatomical context.
5. Ablation concept
When ablation is appropriate, therapy is directed at the responsible focal source or critical tissue.
Quick knowledge check
What is the best learning sequence for AT?
Professional reference
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Founder-authored educational summary. External expert review is not implied unless specifically stated.