what is cardioversion

Cardioversion is a medical procedure used to restore a regular heart rhythm in certain types of irregular heartbeats (arrhythmias), including atrial fibrillation (A-fib) . It can be done using medications or an electric device. During electric cardioversion, a machine delivers low-energy shocks to the chest while the heart rhythm is monitored. The procedure is usually scheduled in advance but can also be done in emergencies. Chemical (pharmacological) cardioversion uses medicine to restore the hearts rhythm. Cardioversion can correct many types of fast or irregular heart rhythms, including atrial fibrillation, atrial flutter, atrial tachycardia, and ventricular tachycardia. The procedure itself lasts only a few minutes, but patients should plan to spend about four to six hours total to allow time for procedure preparation and recovery. Repeat cardioversions can be performed if the rhythm still doesnt stabilize, and if that doesnt work, patients may be referred for catheter ablation, a procedure that destroys the heart tissue causing the irregularity.