Certified Rhythm Analysis Technician (CRAT) Practice Exam 2025 – All-in-One Study Guide for Exam Success!

The correct answer is atrial flutter, characterized by a distinctive sawtooth pattern on the ECG strip, particularly seen in the inferior leads. This pattern is often referred to as “F-waves” or “flutter waves.” The sawtooth appearance is due to the rapid re-entrant electrical activity within the atria, causing a consistent and regular atrial contraction rate. In atrial flutter, the atrial rate typically ranges between 240 to 340 beats per minute, leading to the recognizable rhythm on the ECG.

Understanding this sawtooth pattern is crucial for distinguishing atrial flutter from other arrhythmias, where such a definitive waveform is not present. For example, atrial fibrillation is marked by an irregular and often chaotic atrial activity without a discernible pattern, making it quite different from the organized sawtooth appearance of atrial flutter. Sinus arrhythmia, on the other hand, is characterized by a variation in heart rate with respiration and would not exhibit a sawtooth pattern. Idiopathic rhythm is not a recognized term used in rhythm classification, making it less relevant in this context. Therefore, recognizing the sawtooth pattern is key in diagnosing atrial flutter effectively.