Guide To Cardioversion

Cardioversion is the name for a medical procedure done to restore a normal heartbeat. It usually involves shocking the heart with electricity by placing electrodes on the patient's chest. However, some patients may use medications for this procedure instead. Cardioversion tends to be scheduled and performed in a hospital. It generally does not involve the need for overnight observation. Thus, patients can leave the same day. Most patients find that cardioversion successfully restores their heart to its normal rhythm.

Cardioversion is a common treatment for arrhythmias. Specifically, it is a treatment for fibrillation, an irregular heartbeat. It will also act as a treatment for tachycardia, which comprises a range of abnormally fast heartbeats. Patients may need to take anticoagulants for blood clots before undergoing this procedure. It is also worth noting that patients will receive intravenous medication for cardioversion. Patients need to understand this procedure fully before they undergo one.

Chemical Versus Electrical Cardioversion

Chemical and electrical cardioversion are two different procedures. However, they have the same end goal of restoring the heart's rhythm. Chemical cardioversion refers to the use of medication to control the heart's rhythm. Electrical cardioversion occurs when electric shocks are used to return the heart to its normal rhythm. Chemical cardioversion might treat several different arrhythmias, but the most common one is atrial fibrillation. This occurs when the atria quiver instead of beating fully. The condition increases an individual's risk of a stroke. Doctors may recommend cardioversion for individuals who have only had one episode.

Chemical cardioversion does not require sedation, and it is a less traumatic procedure than the alternative. Many doctors start with chemical cardioversion and move to the electrical form if it does not work. Having chemical cardioversion first increases the likelihood of electric shock working. The risks of chemical cardioversion tend to be lower. However, it also tends to take longer to see results. It also may not be as effective as electrical cardioversion.

Continue reading to reveal the reasons that this procedure is performed now.

Reasons The Procedure Is Performed

Cardioversion may be recommended if patients have certain heart rhythm problems. This includes an irregular heartbeat or a too-fast heartbeat. It is more likely to be recommended for patients whose heart condition places them at an increased risk of stroke. Suppose an individual's symptoms are only mild and not interfering with their day-to-day life. In that case, their doctor may decide that the risks are not worth the benefits. An irregular heart rhythm occurs when there is an issue with the electrical signals being sent to the heart.

In most cases, the procedure is scheduled well in advance. However, it may be performed on an emergency basis if a patient develops life-threatening symptoms related to their arrhythmia. Electric cardioversion is the most well-known procedure. It is done by sending electric shocks to the heart while a patient is under sedation. It tends to show more immediate results than chemical intervention. This procedure is different from defibrillation, which occurs on an emergency basis when the heart has stopped beating entirely. It involves the use of more powerful electricity to correct the heart rhythm.

Discover how patients can prepare for their procedure next.

Preparing For The Procedure

In most cases, patients will schedule the procedure in advance and go to the hospital on the appointed day. Some patients may need to have cardioversion done on an emergency basis if their symptoms are severe enough to become life-threatening. Patients will typically be asked not to drink or eat anything for at least eight hours before the procedure. They will also need to talk to their doctor about if they should take their regular medications, as some may interfere with the procedure. When patients do take their medications, they should only drink enough water to swallow the pill.

Doctors may do a procedure beforehand to look for blood clots in the patient's heart. This is a crucial step because cardioversion can cause existing blood clots to break free, leading to a heart attack or stroke. Patients can ask their doctor if their risk of blood clots is high enough to warrant a screening. If blood clots are found, cardioversion will generally be delayed by about a month. During this time, patients will take anticoagulants to reduce their chances of complications.

Get the details on how the procedure works next.

How The Procedure Works

Upon arriving at the hospital for electrical cardioversion, medication will be administered to patients through an intravenous line. The medicine will sedate patients so that they sleep through the procedure and do not experience pain from the electrical shocks. Electrodes will be placed on the patient's chest by a technician or nurse. The electrodes are connected to a defibrillator, which is the machine that administers electric shocks. It will record the patient's heart rhythm and calibrate the electric shocks to restore a normal rhythm. If a patient's heart begins beating too slowly after the procedure, the defibrillator can correct the issue. Electrical cardioversion tends to take just a few minutes. Once patients recover from the anesthesia, they can go home the same day.

With chemical cardioversion, patients take medication to stabilize their heart. Some doctors may give patients the medication for this procedure through an intravenous line, just like in electrical cardioversion. This is done because it will increase the chances of a successful procedure.

Keep reading to learn about the risks and precautions that are linked to cardioversion next.

Risks And Precautions

Cardioversion does not tend to have serious complications when done in a clinical setting. One of the most significant risks of this procedure is dislodging blood clots within the heart. Suppose a patient's arrhythmia has caused them to develop blood clots inside their heart. Thus, cardioversion may cause the clots to circulate throughout the body instead. This might cause a stroke, clot in the lungs, or other life-threatening issues. If individuals are prone to blood clots, their doctor may do an imaging test before the procedure to make sure they do not have any. Patients may also need to take anticoagulants for several weeks before the procedure.

Another potential risk linked to cardioversion is that patients may develop new heart rhythm issues. However, this is rare. Doctors also usually know within minutes if their patients have new heart rhythm issues. The problem can frequently be corrected before patients even wake up. Patients may also have some mild burns on their skin under the electrodes.