Sawtooth” pattern in ECG

Sawtooth” pattern in ECG


Sawtooth” pattern in ECG seen in

[A] Ventricular tachycardia
[B] Atrial fibrillation
[C] Atrial flutter
[D] Torsades de pointes



Sawtooth” pattern in ECG

ECG showing typical saw-tooth flutter waves that are best seen in leads II, III, and aVF

ECG showing typical saw-tooth flutter waves that are best seen in leads II, III, and aVF

Atrial Flutter in a Newborn: a Case Report – Scientific Figure on ResearchGate. Available from: https://www.researchgate.net/figure/ECG-showing-typical-saw-tooth-flutter-waves-that-are-best-seen-in-leads-II-III-and-aVF_fig1_346763837 [accessed 6 Aug, 2023]


Phases of Sawtooth pattern

Sawtooth pattern in ECG – pattern is composed of a two‐phased descent and a rapid ascent, with no isoelectric interval.

Sawtooth pattern in ECG

  1. Atrial flutter (AFl) may exist with or without underlying structural heart disease.
  2. Typical AFl presents as a “sawtooth” pattern on the ECG – with inverted flutter (F) waves in the inferior leads and upright F waves in V1.