Chest infections can cause atrial fibrillation in 3 ways:

• By inducing a stress response which increases the sympathetic tone
• Increased sympathetic tone can precipitate atrial fibrillation (AF)
• Hypoxia leading to increased pulmonary resistance
• This results in pulmonary hypertension and atrial dilatation
• Atrial dilatation can lead to AF
• Direct involvement of the atria

1. Mechanism of development of atrial fibrillation in valvular heart disease
2. Atrial fibrillation with bigeminal rhythm
3. Pharmacology – MCQ 122 – 60 year old man with atrial fibrillation
4. Classification of atrial fibrillation based on duration