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Key Points
- Cardioversion is a procedure used to restore a
fast or irregular heartbeat (an
arrhythmia)
to a normal rhythm.
- Cardioversion is done two ways: using an
electrical procedure or using medicines. This article discusses electrical
cardioversion. For this procedure, low-energy shocks are given to your heart to
trigger a normal rhythm.
- Cardioversion isn't the same as
defibrillation. Defibrillation gives high-energy shocks to the heart. It's
used to restore normal heartbeats during life-threatening situations, such as
cardiac arrest.
- You may need cardioversion if you have an
arrhythmia that's causing troublesome symptoms. These symptoms may include
dizziness, shortness of breath, extreme fatigue (tiredness), and chest
discomfort.
- Atrial
fibrillation is the most common type of arrhythmia treated with
cardioversion.
- You may need cardioversion on an emergency basis
if your symptoms are severe. However, you usually schedule this procedure in
advance.
- You're at greater risk for dangerous blood
clots during and after a cardioversion. This is because the procedure can
dislodge blood clots that may have formed due to an arrhythmia. Your doctor may
prescribe medicine both before and after the procedure to prevent these blood
clots from causing complications, such as
stroke.
- Before a cardioversion, you're given
medicine to make you sleep through the procedure. While you're asleep, a
cardiologist will give one or more low-energy electrical shocks to your heart
to trigger a normal heartbeat. You won't feel any pain from the shocks due
to the medicine used to make you sleep.
- Cardioversion takes just a few minutes. However,
you will likely be in the hospital for a few hours due to the prep time and
monitoring after the procedure.
- You will be watched closely for an hour or so
after the procedure for any signs of complications. You may feel drowsy for
several hours after cardioversion because of the medicine used to make you
sleep. You should arrange for someone to drive you home after the
procedure.
- Cardioversion has some risks. It can worsen
arrhythmias. Rarely the procedure can cause stroke or other complications due
to blood clots in the heart traveling to other organs or tissues. However,
serious complications are rare.
- Cardioversion successfully restores normal heart
rhythms in more than 75 percent of people who have the procedure.
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What Are the Risks Links
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