What is Cardioversion?

Cardioversion is the technique used to correct an abnormally fast or irregularly paced heartbeat called an Arrhythmia. It involves two procedures namely, Synchronised electrical cardioversion and Pharmacologic cardioversion. The heart has an internal electrical system which controls the rate of heartbeat as well as it’s rhythm. With each heartbeat an electrical signal flows from the top of your heart to the bottom. And as it passes along it causes the various chambers of the heart to contract and pump the blood. Any problem arising in this system can be the potential cause for an arrhythmia.

Cardioversion Procedure

Cardioversion is done in two ways and the first way, i.e. Synchronized electrical cardioversion involves administering therapeutic doses of electric current to the heart at a particular moment in the cardiac cycle. The patient is put to sleep temporarily and low energy shocks are given to the heart to trigger a normal rhythm. This is mainly employed in hospitals as an outpatient procedure, which means that you can go home once the procedure is done.

Pharmacologic cardioversion involves the use of medicines or antiarrhythmic agents to return the heart to the normal rhythm. This type of cardioversion in addition to being done in the hospital can also be done at home or in a doctors office.

Most doctors prefer electrical cadioversion over pharmacologic cardioversion. The reason being that electrical cardioversion is more predictable and it works better. In addition to that it Is easier to find out right away if the procedure worked.

Applications of Cardioversion

Cardioversion can be used for the treatment of the following conditions:

• Patients having an arrhythmia causing troublesome symptoms like dizziness, shortness of breath, extreme fatigue and chest discomfort.
• Patients having Atrial Fibrillation, which is a condition in which the electrical signals travel through the upper chambers of your heart in a fast and disorganized way causing the atria to quiver instead of contract. Atrial Fibrillation is the most common type of arrhythmia treated with cardioversion.
• Patients having Atrial Flutter, state in which the electrical signals travel through the atria with a fast but regular rhythm.
• Rapid heart rhythm in the lower chambers of the heart.
• Sometimes cardioversion is required in case of any severe symptoms.

Complications of Cardioversion

Patients are at a greater risk for dangerous blood clots during and after cardioversion. This is because the procedure may dislodge blood clots formed due to an arrhythmia. Usually doctors prescribe medicines before and after the procedure to prevent blood clots from causing further complications like a stroke.

Success Rate of Cardioversion

Cardioversion succeeds in restoring normal heartbeat in more than 75 percent of the patients who have had the procedure. However there are chances of irregular heart rhythm occurring again, so the patient may need to have more than one cardioversion over time.