Cardioversion Usage

The underlying mechanism of cardioversion is based on the fact that these rhythms represent circular electrical currents that keep the heart muscle—or parts of it—twitching in an uncoordinated...

Read more about Arrhythmias (Heart Rhythm Disturbances) and Cardioversion.

If the heart is not beating regularly, it may prevent the normal circulation of blood through the body. This may deprive various organs, including the brain and heart, of oxygen. Without oxygen, the organs cannot properly function and will eventually die.

Nonemergency cardioversion may be used to treat the following conditions:

• Atrial fibrillation —very rapid, irregular twitching in the atrium, when the ventricular heart rate is not too fast
• Atrial flutter —rapid but regular contractions in the atrium, when the ventricular heart rate is not too fast

Emergency cardioversion may be used to treat the following types of irregular heartbeats, which can lead to death if they are not immediately converted to a more normal rhythm:

• Atrial tachycardia —rapid beating of the heart, originating in the atrium with rapid ventricular heart rate
• Ventricular tachycardia—rapid beating of the heart, originating in the ventricle
• Ventricular fibrillation —rapid movement of the ventricular muscle without effective pumping