Cardioversion
Cardioversion successfully restores normal heart rhythms in more than 75 percent of people who have the procedure. However, fast or irregular heartbeats can occur again. For this reason, you may need to have more than one cardioversion over time.
- What Is Cardioversion?
- Who Needs Cardioversion?
- What To Expect During Cardioversion
- What Are the Risks of Cardioversion?
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Who Needs Cardioversion?
You may need cardioversion if you have an arrhythmia that's causing troublesome symptoms. These symptoms may include dizziness, shortness of breath, extreme fatigue, and chest discomfort.
Atrial fibrillation, or AF, is the most common type of arrhythmia treated with cardioversion. In AF, the electrical signals travel through the upper chambers of your heart in a fast and disorganized way. This causes the atria to quiver instead of contract.
Atrial flutter, which is similar to AF, also may be treated with cardioversion. In atrial flutter, the electrical signals travel through the atria in a fast, but regular, rhythm.
Less commonly, you may have cardioversion to treat a rapid heart rhythm in the lower chambers of your heart.
You may need cardioversion on an emergency basis if your symptoms are severe. However, you usually schedule this procedure in advance.
Cardioversion may not be right for you if you have other heart conditions as well as an arrhythmia. Talk to your doctor about whether cardioversion is an option for you.
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What To Expect Before Cardioversion
You usually can't have any food or drinks for about 12 hours before the cardioversion (as your doctor advises).
You're at increased 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 anticlotting medicine to prevent these clots. People often take this medicine for several weeks before the procedure and for several weeks to months after the procedure.
To find out whether you need anticlotting medicine, your doctor may have you undergo a transesophageal echocardiogram (TEE) before the cardioversion. A TEE is a special type of ultrasound. An ultrasound is a test that uses sound waves to look at the organs and structures in the body.
You will be given medicine to make you sleep during the TEE. A special wand that transmits sound waves is put on the end of a tube. The tube is put down your throat into your esophagus (the passage from your mouth to your stomach). The tube is placed close to your heart, and the sound waves create pictures of your heart. Your doctor will look at these pictures to see whether you have any blood clots.
The TEE will be scheduled for the same time as the cardioversion or just before the procedure. If blood clots are found, your cardioversion may be put off for a few weeks. During this time, you will take anticlotting medicine.
Even if no blood clots are found, you will be given anticlotting medicine through a vein during the cardioversion. You also will take medicine after the procedure to prevent blood clots.
This medicine can affect your awareness when you wake up. You will need to arrange for someone to drive you home after the procedure.