Atrial fibrillation has been well-documented in the setting of stress, including trauma. These episodes are predominantly self-limited and usually do not recur. The most common feature of the relationship to stress is the heart rate, which is usually quite elevated (above 130-150 bpm) and difficult to control. An alternative scenario is that atrial fibrillation can be diagnosed in an otherwise healthy patient at the time they receive an ECG for other reasons (at the time of trauma), suggesting a pre-existing arrhythmia that had gone undetected. Asymptomatic atrial fibrillation is well-known.
Stress induced cardiac atrial fibrillation medical expert witness specialties include cardiology, cardiac electrophysiology, and emergency medicine.