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Electrical Cardioversion (Defibrillation)

We have selected the following expert medical opinion based on its clarity, reliability and accuracy. Credits: Sourced from the website UPMC, authored by Healthwise Staff (see below). Please refer to your own medical practitioner for a final perspective, assessment or evaluation.

 

What is electrical cardioversion?

Electrical cardioversion is a procedure in which a brief electric shock is given to the heart to reset the heart rhythm back to its normal, regular pattern (normal sinus rhythm). The shock is given through patches applied to the outside of the chest wall. In some situations, an external defibrillator, which has paddles, might be used.

Usually, the person is sedated. If the person is conscious, medicine is given to control pain and to cause the person to relax to the point of being nearly unconscious during the procedure.

What to expect

After cardioversion, the person's heart rate and blood pressure are monitored.

Additional drugs to help prevent heart rhythm problems from recurring (antiarrhythmic drugs) may also be given before and after the procedure. If antiarrhythmic drugs are not used after cardioversion, the heart may be at greater risk of going back into a fast heart rate.

After cardioversion, you may take a blood-thinning medicine for a few weeks to prevent dangerous blood clots.

Why it is done

Cardioversion may be used as an emergency procedure to stop a fast heart rate that is causing low blood pressure or severe symptoms. These heart rate problems include atrial fibrillation, supraventricular tachycardia, and ventricular tachycardia.

How well it works

Electrical cardioversion of the heart is very effective. Most people who receive cardioversion return to normal sinus rhythm immediately after the procedure.

Risks

Risks of the procedure include the following:

• A blood clot may become dislodged from the heart and cause a stroke. Your doctor will try to decrease this risk by using anticoagulants or other measures.
• The procedure may not work. Additional cardioversion or other treatment may be needed.
• Antiarrhythmic medicines used before and after cardioversion or even the cardioversion itself may cause a life-threatening irregular heartbeat.
• You can have a reaction to the sedative given before the procedure. Harmful reactions are rare.
• You can get a small area of burn on your skin where the paddles or patches are placed.

What to think about

Cardioversion is only a temporary fix for a fast heart rate. Medicines (such as beta-blockers and calcium channel blockers or other antiarrhythmic medicines) may be used to keep the heart rate slow when a person has an episode of supraventricular tachycardia (SVT). For long-term treatment and to reduce the chance of having another episode of either SVT or ventricular tachycardia (VT), catheter ablation or medicine can be used.

 

 

About the source

Healthwise Staff

Medical Reviewers:

• Rakesh K. Pai, MD - Cardiology, Electrophysiology
• E. Gregory Thompson, MD - Internal Medicine
• Adam Husney, MD - Family Medicine
• Martin J. Gabica, MD - Family Medicine
• John M. Miller, MD, FACC - Cardiology, Electrophysiology

Current as of December 06, 2017

 

Recommended website

For further reading go to:

• Electrical Cardioversion for Atrial Fibrillation
• Ventricular Tachycardia
• Supraventricular Tachycardia

 

 

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