What kind of waveforms would you expect to see in atrial fibrillation?

In atrial fibrillation, the heart's electrical signals become chaotic, leading to a loss of coordinated atrial contraction. This condition results in the presence of irregularly spaced fibrillatory waves instead of distinct P waves, which are characteristic of normal atrial activity. The absence of consistent P waves is a hallmark of atrial fibrillation, and instead, one would observe small, erratic waves producing an irregular pattern on the electrocardiogram.

The irregular spacing of the waves corresponds to the rapid and disorganized electrical activity in the atria, which means that there is no predictable timing between the QRS complexes. Consequently, the rhythm appears chaotic on monitoring displays, showcasing the fibrillatory waves as the dominant feature in this condition. Recognizing these irregular fibrillatory waves is crucial for monitoring and diagnosing atrial fibrillation effectively.