What does an atrial fibrillation EKG typically show?

An EKG of a patient with atrial fibrillation typically displays an unorganized baseline characterized by the absence of distinct P waves. This is a hallmark feature of atrial fibrillation, where the atria do not contract in a coordinated manner. Instead, they quiver or fibrillate, leading to chaotic electrical activity and an irregularly irregular rhythm throughout the EKG strip.

In addition to the unorganized baseline, the QRS complexes may still appear normal, but the significant point is the lack of clearly identifiable P waves due to the disorganized atrial activity. This characteristic helps clinicians identify atrial fibrillation on EKG readings quickly.