Cardioversion Treatment

A medical operation in which the heart beats too fast or irregularly and is restored back to its normal working condition. Data in statistics reveal that approximately 90 % of the electric cardioversions are successful, although some patients have shown signs of an irregular heartbeat, also known as arrhythmia, recurring again shortly after having it. To keep your heartbeat normal, your doctor can provide you with suitable drugs.

Electrodes are placed on the chest; this generates electrical shock waves that travel to the heart. The shock waves that are generated as a result help to stop the abnormal electrical activity and make the heartbeat come back to a normal condition. 

A cardioversion operation is the best means to save a person’s life if one is susceptible to ventricular arrhythmia that may lead to all of a sudden cardiac arrest. In other cases, for a patient who is suffering with a varying degree of arrhythmia, cardioversion is recommended as a voluntary option or medical emergency, as the case may be. In most cases, cardioversion is fast enough to bring the heartbeat back to normal.

Types of Cardioversion

Two main types of cardioversion identified are as follows:

• Electrical cardioversion: With the aid of sensors and machines, fast and low-impulse shock waves are generated in the chest. This lets the healthcare expert analyze the treatment process and make sure the irregular heartbeat has subsided and gradually returned to normal.
• Chemical cardioversion: Known as pharmacological cardioversion, suitable medicines are taken here to bring the heart to a normal beat. It may take longer than the electric cardioversion as there is no involvement of shock waves. Drugs can be given to swallow or can be injected through an intravenous method. 

What Causes Cardioversion?

Cardioversion is a medical operation that is performed in arrhythmia patients to restore their normal heartbeat. Various factors contributing to this condition include:

• An abnormal heartbeat that adversely affects the upper chamber of the heart, like atrial fibrillation (AFib) and atrial flutter.
• Structural changes in the heart.
• Use of drugs and medicines.
• Damage to the tissue.
• Cardiac stimulants.
• Valvular heart disease.
• Critical conditions, such as thyroid disorder, digoxin toxicity, electrolytic trauma, and surgery complications.

Common Symptoms:

• A feeling of fluttering or pounding in the chest
• An uneasiness in the chest
• Shortness of breath
• Weariness that is extreme

Cardioversion Preparation Before Treatment

• Cardioversion is planned in advance. An emergency case can be considered if the heartbeat is chronic.
• Echocardiogram, i.e., ultrasound of the heart to see if there is any blood clot in the heart. Your healthcare expert will make sure this test is needed or not. 
• If blood clotting is more in the heart, then it is likely that cardioversion will be delayed for 3 to 4 weeks.

Cardioversion Treatment Procedure

• Readying: The patient is put under general anesthesia or subjected to sedatives.

• Location of electrodes: Electrodes are placed suitably on the chest so that the heart is given an electric shock.

• Monitoring: To constantly check the heartbeat and look out for any negativity, a continuous electrocardiogram (ECG) is initiated.

• Shock delivery: A coordinated supply of electric shock is delivered by means of the electrodes to restore the heart’s original rhythm.

• Careful examination: In order to know that the surgery performed is successful, the patient’s cardiac beat is regularly monitored after the shock.

• Recovery: Depending on the patient’s condition and the medical surgery, the patient can be hospitalized till a stable condition is reached.