What Is Cardioversion?

Cardioversion appears to be the name for a medical procedure. It seems to be a standard treatment for irregular heartbeats, though it may also fix fast heart rates. The procedure may be performed with electric shocks or intravenous medication, depending on the patient's needs. Most patients seem to have scheduled procedures. However, cardioversion may also be used in an emergency.

This procedure appears to be a common arrhythmia treatment. It should be a fairly common treatment for fibrillation, though some patients receive it as a treatment for tachycardia. However, this procedure puts patients at risk if they have blood clots. Patients who do may be prescribed medication for blood clots. They seem to need treatment for blood clots before they are eligible for this procedure. Of course, patients should review the procedure with their doctor beforehand so that they may have a chance at understanding it fully.

Chemical Versus Electrical Cardioversion

Electrical and chemical cardioversion seem to have the same goal of restoring a normal heart rhythm. Despite this, they also appear to be different procedures. Chemical cardioversion should use intravenous medication to control an individual's heart rhythm. It seems to be used the most on atrial fibrillation. Electrical cardioversion may use medication to sedate patients, but it seems to restore their heart rhythm with electric shocks.

It is worth noting that sedation may not be needed for chemical cardioversion. It also appears to be less invasive, though results may take longer to appear. In addition, the risks may be lower than they are with electrical cardioversion. Some doctors may choose to try chemical cardioversion first before attempting the electrical form. This may indicate that the chemical form is less effective.

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Potential Reasons For The Procedure

As mentioned, this procedure may be used to treat heart rhythm issues such as atrial fibrillation. Overall, it appears to treat irregular heartbeats and heartbeats that are too fast. It seems to be recommended when a patient's issue increases their stroke risk. If their symptoms do not interfere with their activities and are only mild, the benefits may not outweigh the risks.

This procedure may be performed in an emergency, should it be necessary. Most patients, however, appear to have a scheduled appointment for cardioversion. Chemical cardioversion, of course, only includes medication to try correcting the issue. The electrical form may be what most individuals think of when they consider cardioversion. As mentioned, this one involves electric shocks. It appears to share some similarities with emergency defibrillation, though it is not the same.

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Preparing For The Procedure

If patients scheduled their procedure, their doctor may ask them to avoid eating or drinking anything at least eight hours before their appointment. Doing so may interfere with the safety and effectiveness of cardioversion. However, they should also discuss the medications that they take. Some medications seem to interfere with this procedure as well. If they do not interfere, doctors may ask their patients to take their medication with only the water they need to swallow the pill. They should minimize the water as much as possible if they are likely to take the medication within eight hours of their procedure.

Some patients may have blood clots or be at a higher risk of them. If this is the case, some doctors appear to test for clots before cardioversion. The reason for this seems to be that the procedure can cause blood clots to break free and trigger severe complications. This may include a heart attack or a stroke. Patients who have a blood clot may be asked to take anticoagulants for a few weeks or a month and schedule the procedure after that.

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How The Procedure Should Work

Chemical cardioversion seems to use intravenous medication to help stabilize the patient's heart. This should increase the chances of success. However, it may be possible for patients to receive the medication in another way.

With electrical cardioversion, a nurse or technician should place electrodes on the patient's chest. The nurse may also be the one to administer the intravenous sedative so that the patient will sleep through the procedure. A machine that connects to the electrodes should record the patient's heart rate and rhythm and then calibrate the appropriate electrical shock. The machine should then administer the shock. This whole procedure may only take a few minutes. Once patients recover from the sedative, they may be able to return home.

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Possible Procedure Risks

It seems as if this procedure, if it is performed in a hospital, does not come with severe complications. However, there may still be an issue related to blood clots. Patients with heart rhythm issues may be at a higher risk of blood clots. If they have a clot and undergo cardioversion, the procedure may dislodge the clot if it is in their heart. A dislodged clot may then begin to circulate, potentially outside the heart. The complications from a dislodged clot may depend on where it circulates. Examples of possible complications can include stroke, pulmonary embolism, and a heart attack. Doctors may need to screen patients for blood clots before performing this procedure.

Some patients may also develop new issues with their heart rhythm after cardioversion. However, this may be quite rare. It also seems as if the complication can be corrected fairly quickly. If patients received electrical cardioversion, doctors might be able to find the new issue and fix it before the sedative wears off. Finally, there appears to be a risk of burns on the skin where the electrodes were attached as well.