The portal uses cookies to provide service functions such as “Bookmark” and to improve website usage. Information and opt-out options can be found in the cookie settings in the privacy policy.

Search

I48.9: Atrial fibrillation and atrial flutter, unspecified

You have atrial fibrillation or atrial flutters.

The heart pumps blood through the body. Inside the heart are 4 chambers. There are 2 heart atria and 2 ventricles. Both heart atria and both ventricles are separated from each other by a partition. The heart's electrical currents flow within the heart. The heart's electrical activity causes the heart muscle to contract. It begins at a site in your right atrium. Initially the electrical activity spreads to both atria. The electrical activity then flows on via a sort of cable to the ventricles.

Atrial fibrillation and atrial flutters are heart rhythm disorders. With both disorders, the heart's electrical pulses follow one another too quickly in the atria. With atrial flutters, the atria and, to some degree, the ventricles beat more quickly than usual. With atrial fibrillation, the electrical pulses in the atria also occur in a disordered way. As a result, the atria are only able to contract in a limited way or are entirely unable to contract. The heart's currents spread through the heart erratically. So with atrial fibrillation, the heart beats irregularly and, often, too quickly. With atrial fibrillation, the heart may also beat at its normal speed or too slowly. If the heart beats irregularly, each beat pumps different volumes of blood to the body.

Atrial flutters are typically caused by other heart disorders. There can be various reasons for atrial fibrillation. Reasons include, for example, high blood pressure, other heart conditions, and thyroid gland disorders. Atrial fibrillation can also occur for no particular reason.

Atrial fibrillation or atrial flutters may not be accompanied by any symptoms at all. This is typically the case if the disorders have existed for a long time. But atrial fibrillation and atrial flutters may also lead to a range of complaints. With atrial fibrillation and atrial flutters you can have palpitations or an irregular heartbeat, for example. You may feel dizzy or restless. You may become less productive. With both disorders, blood clots can form in the atria. A blood clot is a clump of clotted blood. The blood clots can move from the heart into the body and cause problems.

Additional indicator

On medical documents, the ICD code is often appended by letters that indicate the diagnostic certainty or the affected side of the body.

  • G: Confirmed diagnosis
  • V: Tentative diagnosis
  • Z: Condition after
  • A: Excluded diagnosis
  • L: Left
  • R: Right
  • B: Both sides

Further information

Note

This information is not intended for self-diagnosis and does not replace professional medical advice from a doctor. If you find an ICD code on a personal medical document, please also note the additional indicator used for diagnostic confidence.
Your doctor will assist you with any health-related questions and explain the ICD diagnosis code to you in a direct consultation if necessary.

Source

Provided by the non-profit organization “Was hab’ ich?” gemeinnützige GmbH on behalf of the Federal Ministry of Health (BMG).

More articles

Cardiac arrhythmia (heart rhythm disorder)

Cardiac arrhythmias are common, especially in older people and in people with other heart problems. They don’t always need treatment.

Atrial fibrillation

If the heart beats too fast and palpitations frequently occur, this can be due to atrial fibrillation. The condition is not immediately life-threatening but can increase the likelihood of a stroke.