Mechanism of Experimental Atrial Flutter

The mechanism of atrial flutter induced by the local application of aconitine or by the Rosenblueth-Garcia Ramos method was studied in dogs. The results were analyzed from a pharmacologic and electrocardiographic point of view. It was concluded that aconitine-induced flutter is due to a single, rapidly firing ectopic focus and electrically-induced flutter to a circus movement. Although they can be differentiated electrocardiographically by means of direct cardiac leads, they cannot be differentiated by esophageal or limb leads.