Outpatient cardioversion of atrial arrhythmias: efficacy, safety, and costs

Outpatient direct current (DC) cardioversion is performed routinely, yet scant data support this approach. We studied the efficacy, safety, and costs of outpatient cardioversion.

A retrospective analysis of outpatient cardioversions was performed in a 5-year period at an academic medical center in 532 consecutive outpatients with an atrial tachyarrhythmia. The protocol included anticoagulation (international normalized ratio >or=2.0) for >or=4 consecutive weekly draws and then DC cardioversion with the patient under intravenous anesthesia. Arrhythmia symptoms, antiarrhythmic therapy use, and costs were evaluated.

Ninety percent of patients were discharged in sinus rhythm after cardioversion with a median number of shocks of 1 (range, 1-6) for atrial flutter (n = 113), atrial tachycardia (n = 13), and atrial fibrillation (n = 406). Sixty-seven percent of patients were treated with an antiarrhythmic drug. The complication rate was 2.6%, with 11 unplanned admissions. Thromboemboli occurred only in patients whose anticoagulation deviated from protocol and included chronic hemianopsia starting 4 days after cardioversion, transient right-sided weakness, and cerebral vascular accident 3 days after cardioversion, despite negative results on a transesophageal echocardiogram. Two patients had postcardioversion pulmonary edema. Bradycardia developed in 4 patients; transient pacemaker noncapture after the shock occurred in 4 patients. Transient postshock rhythms also included AV nodal Wenckebach and junctional rhythm. One patient had aspiration pneumonia. The mean cost of cardioversion was 464 dollars. Fees for anesthesia ranged from 525 dollars to 650 dollars. The anesthetic costs ranged from 2.84 dollars to 21.47 dollars. The cardiology fee averaged 501 dollars.

Outpatient cardioversion is a low risk, effective, and economical procedure.