CA
A 28-year-old member asked:
How effective is cardioversion for helping af?
6 doctor answers • 10 doctors weighed in
Dr. Charles Jostanswered
Cardiology 37 years experience
Effective: If the patient is an appropriate candidate: symptomatic, af unresolvable by medication only, other medical factors the cardiologist will consider, then yes, cardioversion is effective for regaining normal sinus rhythm. Like all therapies, it is not 100% effective and must be evaluated for each individual patient.
6.2k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Dr. Calvin Weisbergeranswered
52 years experience
Cardioversion: The shorter the duration of atrial fibrillation the more effective cardioversion is at converting the rhythm. When underlying cardiac pathology like mitral insufficiency or stenosis is present, keeping the patient out of atrial fibrillation or converting the rhythm is quite problematic.
5k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
Dr. Ilyas Colombowalaanswered
Cardiac Electrophysiology 20 years experience
A good start: Cardioversion is a great first step in managing AF. The procedure is generally very low risk and is highly effective at restoring normal rhythm.
The hard part is maintaining normal rhythm. The heart tends to want to go back into AF without rhythm controlling medications or elimination of the trigger for AF (such as excess alcohol, uncontrolled blood pressure, sleep apnea, etc.).
2.8k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Dr. Charles Jostanswered
Cardiology 37 years experience
Can be very: Very effective if the af is short or medium duration and the left atrium is less than 4.5cm.
6.2k viewsReviewed >2 years agoMerged
Dr. Joshua Buckleranswered
Cardiology 20 years experience
Often first line: It can be very effective, although there in increasing use of and data to support atrial fibrillation ablation as an alternative.
5.4k viewsAnswered >2 years agoMerged
Dr. Ilyas Colombowalaanswered
Cardiac Electrophysiology 20 years experience
A good start: Cardioversion is a great first step in managing AF. The procedure is generally very low risk and is highly effective at restoring normal rhythm.
The hard part is maintaining normal rhythm. The heart tends to want to go back into AF without rhythm controlling medications or elimination of the trigger for AF (such as excess alcohol, uncontrolled blood pressure, sleep apnea, etc.).
2.8k viewsReviewed >2 years agoMerged
Last updated Nov 28, 2017
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