Electrical Cardioversion
What if you still have AFib symptoms even while on AFib medication? Learn about Electrical Cardioversion and how it may help you.
Have you still had symptoms of AFib even though you were taking medicine for it? Are you worried that your treatment is not as effective as it was? Rest assured, there are alternative treatment options available. The frequency or severity of your atrial fibrillation symptoms may have increased. A procedure called electrical cardioversion uses specialized pads or paddles to administer brief, controlled electrical shocks to the heart, restoring its normal rhythm.
Your doctor may want to take some images of your heart before the procedure. You may be prescribed medication to prevent blood clots during the procedure. Electrical Cardioversion is a quick and safe procedure, and should it be necessary, you can have it done again. Risks, such as blood clots, are rare.
One of the benefits you’ll receive by visiting CVG for your electrical cardioversion is that we have ten locations. The convenience of our many offices takes a lot of the stress out of visiting the doctor. Since you’ll usually recover quickly and go home the same day after the procedure, saving time by not having to drive far away to a medical clinic, is a welcome advantage.
Going through medical procedures can be stressful, and we get that. Our Board-Certified doctors offer top-level medical expertise and skill and understand the emotional side of coming in for a procedure. Please know that your doctors offer empathy and support during this and any tests or procedures we provide at CVG. Care is more than just providing physical treatment. Your physicians and their team support you every step of the way.
Read on for full details on what to expect, and feel free to contact CVG should you have any questions.
Electrical Cardioversion is a procedure that reduces AFib symptoms. You may be recommended an EC if medications don’t adequately reduce your AFib symptoms.
During an electrical cardioversion procedure, an electric current shocks the heart back into normal rhythm. Special pads are placed on the chest, or paddles are used to send short electric shocks to your heart. This method treats persistent AFib; you will most likely be sent home a few hours after the procedure.
What to Expect During Your Visit
You may be prescribed blood-thinning medication to prevent blood clots in your heart chambers before the procedure.
You may also undergo a transesophageal echocardiogram before the EC, so your doctor can view a detailed image of your heart.
Frequently Asked Questions
Recovery time is quick, and patients usually go home the same day as the procedure. Electrical cardioversion is very safe; however, there are some risks, such as blood clots potentially traveling to various parts of the body due to the procedure. These risks are extremely rare and can be minimized with proper precautions.
The procedure takes about five minutes; however, recovery time can take approximately 45 minutes. Although electrical cardioversion is an effective treatment, patients can undergo the procedure again if symptoms return, as it is safe to have the treatment multiple times. Recovery is quick, and most patients go home the same day as the procedure.
Electrical cardioversion is a procedure used to treat atrial fibrillation. It is performed using small electrodes placed on the patient’s chest and connected to a defibrillator. The patient is given medication to fall asleep, and the defibrillator delivers a small shock to the heart, resetting it to a normal rhythm.