Your doctor may recommend the use of medicines to try to convert your atrial
fibrillation or flutter instead of electrical cardioversion. If you develop one of these arrhythmias, your doctor will thoroughly discuss
the alternatives and his or her recommendations carefully with you and your family.
Atrial
fibrillationand atrial
flutter are common heart rhythm disturbances. If
you develop one of these arrhythmias, your physician may request
that you undergo electrical
cardioversion to restore a normal rhythm. This procedure
is done by delivering a shock to your chest through paddles
or patches placed on your chest. The shock is delivered after
you have been put to sleep with sedative or anesthetic agents;
and therefore, you will not experience any discomfort. The procedure
is performed by a cardiologist
who is assisted by a nurse
or technologist. It
can be done on an outpatient or inpatient basis; and although
it is usually performed in the cardiac catheterization laboratory,
it is sometimes done in your hospital room.
