How long will a cardioversion last?
Cardioversion itself takes about 5 minutes. But the whole procedure, including recovery, will probably take 30 to 45 minutes.
What does cardioversion do to the heart?
Cardioversion is a procedure used to return an abnormal heartbeat to a normal rhythm. This procedure is used when the heart is beating very fast or irregular. This is called an arrhythmia. Arrhythmias can cause problems such as fainting, stroke, heart attack, and even sudden cardiac death.
Are you awake during cardioversion?
Because the shock would be painful for a patient who is awake, an intravenous medication is given to sedate the patient. Patients are asleep during the cardioversion and most do not remember the procedure.
Does your heart stop during cardioversion?
If your doctor recommends cardioversion with medications to restore your heart’s rhythm, you won’t receive electric shocks to your heart. Cardioversion is different from defibrillation, an emergency procedure that’s performed when your heart stops or quivers uselessly.
Does the heart stop during cardioversion?
What happens if a cardioversion doesn’t work?
Repeat cardioversions can be performed. If the rhythm still doesn’t stabilize, patients may be referred for catheter ablation, a procedure that destroys the heart tissue causing the irregularity.
Does your heart stop during a cardioversion?
Why is a tee done before cardioversion?
The use of TEE may allow cardioversion to be done earlier, may decrease the risk for embolism associated with cardioversion, and may be associated with less clinical instability than conventional therapy.
What happens if cardioversion fails?
If external cardioversion fails, then internal cardioversion may be done and involves delivering the jolt of energy through catheters inside the heart. Once you wake up following the electrical cardioversion, you can go home, but will need to have someone drive you.
What happens if your heart stays in AFib?
The irregular heart rhythm of atrial fibrillation can cause blood to pool in your atria and form clots. Although those clots won’t lead to a heart attack, one of them could dislodge from the atria and travel through your bloodstream to your brain. There it might block blood flow, causing a stroke.