What is typically present on an ECG for atrial fibrillation?

In atrial fibrillation, the most notable feature on an ECG is the presence of small erratic spikes that create a wavy baseline. This characteristic results from the chaotic electrical activity in the atria, which causes irregular and rapid depolarization. This lack of coordinated atrial contraction leads to the absence of distinct P waves typically seen in a normal sinus rhythm.

The erratic appearance results in a baseline that resembles waves or undulations, indicating the turbulence and disorder happening in the atrial electrical conduction. Because the atrial impulses in atrial fibrillation do not create clear, consistent P waves followed by the QRS complexes, this pattern is a clear diagnostic marker of the condition.

The other characteristics typically associated with normal or different types of arrhythmias, like regular R-R intervals or clearly defined ventricular complexes, do not apply here due to the irregular rhythm seen in atrial fibrillation. Thus, the small erratic spikes demonstrating a wavy baseline aptly describe the ECG findings affiliated with atrial fibrillation.