atrial kick
a·tri·al kick
the priming force contributed by atrial contraction immediately before ventricular systole that acts to increase the efficiency of ventricular ejection due to acutely increased preload.
Farlex Partner Medical Dictionary © Farlex 2012
atrial kick
Atrial systole Cardiology The contraction of the atrium, which accounts for 5-30% of cardiac output; it appears as an abrupt notch in the pressure curve in the ventricular outflow tract, and is typical of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy–formerly idiopathic hypertrophic subaortic stenosisMcGraw-Hill Concise Dictionary of Modern Medicine. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
References in periodicals archive
The loss of the
atrial kick is particularly detrimental in patients with diastolic dysfunction, such as left ventricular hypertrophy of any cause.
This is often referred to as "
atrial kick," which is lost in afib, when the atria simply quiver and do not help the blood pump forward.
So, the passive filling and
atrial kick occur simultaneously, resulting in shortened LV filling time and decreased preloading of LV.
Some children tolerate atrial fibrillation for months at a time with no hemodynamic changes, while others may require the
atrial kick to sustain their cardiac output.
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