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What is cardioversion?
For most people, cardioversion can quickly restore a regular heartbeat. For some, your irregular heart rhythm may return within a few minutes or days. It's possible you'll need repeat procedures to keep a normal heart rhythm.
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cardioversion information from trusted sources:
Cardioversion
Cardioversion is a medical procedure performed to restore a normal heart rhythm for people who have certain types of abnormal heartbeats (arrhythmias). Cardioversion is most often performed by sending electric shocks to your heart through electrodes placed on your chest. Rarely, your doctor may perform cardioversion using only medications to restore your heart's rhythm. Read more on
www.mayoclinic.com
Cardioversion
Cardioversion is a method to restore an abnormal heart rhythm back to normal. Read more on
www.nlm.nih.gov
Cardioversion - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Cardioversion is a medical procedure by which an abnormally fast heart rate or cardiac arrhythmia is converted to a normal rhythm, using electricity or ... Read more on
en.wikipedia.org
Treatment: Cardioversion
Cleveland Clinic Heart Center offers a full range of interventional procedures, including cardioversion. Read more on
my.clevelandclinic.org
Cardioversion
Cardioversion is a procedure used to treat abnormal heart rhythms (also called cardiac arrhythmias). The most commonly treated arrhythmia is atrial ... Read more on
www.uptodate.com
Cardioversion and Heart Disease
Mar 7, 2009 ... Abnormal heart rhythms may require a procedure called cardioversion. Learn what to expect. Read more on
www.webmd.com
Synchronized Electrical Cardioversion: eMedicine Clinical Procedures
Jan 20, 2010 ... Overview: Delivery of direct current (DC) shocks to the heart has long been used successfully to convert abnormal heart rhythms back to ... Read more on
emedicine.medscape.com
Cardioversion -- Shea and Maisel 106 (22): e176 -- Circulation
by JB Shea - 2002 - Cited by 2 - Related articles Read more on
scholar.google.com
Cardioversion definition - Medical Dictionary definitions of ...
Mar 15, 2011 ... Cardioversion: The conversion of one cardiac rhythm or electrical pattern to another, almost always from an abnormal to a normal one. ... Read more on
www.medterms.com
Cardioversion, treating irregular heartbeats
A procedure used to restore a fast or irregular heartbeat to a normal rhythm. Read more on
www.nhlbi.nih.gov
Contents
How you prepare
Cardioversion procedures are usually scheduled in advance, although if your symptoms are severe, you may need to undergo cardioversion in an emergency setting.
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www.mayoclinic.com
Information
Cardioversion can be done using an energy shock (electric cardioversion) or medications (pharmacologic cardioversion).
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www.nlm.nih.gov
Risks
Complications of electric cardioversion are rare, and doctors can take steps to reduce your risk. Major risks of cardioversion include: Dislodged blood clots. Some people who have arrhythmias have blood clots in their hearts. Electric cardioversion can cause these blood clots to move to other parts of your body, which can cause life-threatening complications, such as a stroke or a blood clot travelling to your lungs (pulmonary embolism). Your doctor will check for blood clots in your heart before cardioversion and prescribe blood-thinning medications if blood clots are found.; Abnormal heart rhythm. In rare cases, some people who undergo cardioversion end up with other heart rhythm problems during or after their procedure. This is a rare complication. If it happens, it usually shows up only minutes after your procedure, so your doctor can give you medications or additional shocks to correct the problem.; Skin burns. Rarely, some people have minor burns on their skin where their electrodes were placed.
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www.mayoclinic.com
What you can expect
During the procedure A nurse or technician will place several large patches called electrodes on your chest. The electrodes will be connected to a cardioversion machine (defibrillator) using wires. The defibrillator will record your heart rhythm throughout the procedure, and will deliver shocks to your heart to restore a normal heart rhythm. This machine can also pace your heart if it beats too slowly after cardioversion.
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www.mayoclinic.com
Why it's done
Cardioversion can correct a heartbeat that's too fast (tachycardia) or irregular (fibrillation). Cardioversion is usually used to treat people who have atrial fibrillation or atrial flutter, conditions in which the electrical signals that cause your heart to beat in a regular rate and rhythm don't properly travel through the upper chambers of your heart.
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www.mayoclinic.com