Who can have cardioversion?

Question

Answer 1

Almost anyone: If there is any compromise in bp, consciousness, breathing, anyone can be cardioverted. If more chronic, then making sure there is a low probability of a clot inside the heart (that could be disrupted and cause an embolic event), sorting the need for prophylactic blood thinning to avoid a clot, making sure the atria (upper heart chambers) are not too large (reduced success) help select patients.

Answer 2

Low Risk: This is a very low risk procedure if proceeded by a tee, transesophogael echocardiogram.

Answer 3

It depends but low: The major risk is an abnormal cardiac rhythm immediately after the cardioversion, usually medication and additional shocks are given to correct the situation, this is very rare. Stroke caused by dislodging a blood clot from the heart into the brain is another concern. Minor skin burns where the electrodes are placed are not uncommon. Depending on your age and medical problems your risk can vary.

Answer 4

Less than 30 minutes: Sedation is given to the patient and an electrical shock is then given to cardiovert the heart back into a regular rhythym.This procedure usually is quite guick lasting in total 30 minutes or less. Delivery of the shock takes 2 seconds and then waiting to see if the rhythym has converted from one shock or reguires several more takes time. Time is then needed for the patient to be fully awake.

Answer 5

Cardioversion: Elective cardioversion usually takes a couple of hours with pre procedure, procedure and recovery from anesthesia. The actual electrical cardioversion is an instantaneous shock. The periprocedure and recovery is what takes the bulk of the time.

Answer 6

Restore: Restore regular heart rate and rhythm and to restore synchrony of the heart.

Answer 7

Restoration: Cardioversion is used to stop certain arrhythmias (atrial fibrillation, ventricular tachycardia) and restore the regular sinus rhythm.

Answer 8

Unlikely: This is extremely unlikely. The worst-case scenario for a cardioversion is usually that it creates a worse rhythm. However, such a rhythm is in fact treated by (wait for it) a cardioversion, so you're already set up for the treatment.

Answer 9

QRS: I think you mean 'synchronous'. Synchronous cardioversion is when the shock is delivered on the qrs portion of the heart cycle - it is when the heart depolarises.

Answer 10

Additional info: This is important because if the heart is depolarized externally during the wrong portion of the cardiac cycle, it can actually induce worse heart rhythms than it was intended to treat. Synchronized cardioversion is typically used to treat atrial fibrillation, atrial flutter, stable ventricular tachycardia.

Answer 11

Timed shock: This is a cardioversion (shock) given to the heart that is timed to a certain point in the cardiac cycle so that the heart rhythm can be reset without causing further rhythm problems. This is the most common type of shock delivered for rhythms such as atrial fibrillation.

Who can have cardioversion?

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