What is the typical atrial rate in atrial flutter?

Atrial flutter is characterized by a rapid, organized electrical activity in the atria, typically resulting in a distinct "sawtooth" pattern on an ECG, often referred to as "F-waves." The typical atrial rate in atrial flutter ranges from 250 to 400 beats per minute (bpm). This range signifies a reentrant circuit predominantly within the right atrium, which is commonly involved in this arrhythmia. The nature of this rhythm allows the atrial rate to be consistently high, often falling within 300 bpm, which corresponds to the most common atrial flutter presentations.

The other rates provided in the options either fall outside the expected ranges for atrial flutter or do not match the physiological characteristics of this arrhythmia. Notably, an atrial rate below 250 bpm, while possible, would suggest a different arrhythmia, such as atrial tachycardia. Similarly, rates that exceed 400 bpm are typically associated with other types of arrhythmias, and thus do not accurately represent the typical atrial flutter condition.