Comparison of pharmacological and electrical cardioversion in permanent atrial fibrillation after prosthetic cardiac...

To compare the efficacy of electrical versus pharmacological cardioversion following prosthetic cardiac valve replacement in patients with permanent atrial fibrillation (AF).

Patients with permanent AF who had undergone prosthetic cardiac valve replacement, who had a cardiothoracic ratio ≤ 0.5 and a left atrial diameter ≤ 50 mm for ≥ 6 months after surgery were randomly divided to receive either electrical or pharmacological cardioversion. Patients in the electrical cardioversion group were given direct-current synchronized electrical defibrillation under general anaesthesia. Patients in the pharmacological cardioversion group were given oral combination therapy with amiodarone, captopril and simvastatin for 3 months.

A total of 115 patients received either electrical cardioversion (n = 59) or pharmacological cardioversion (n = 56); reversion to sinus rhythm occurred in 98.3% and 26.8%, respectively. Recurrence rates were similar in the two groups (3.4% and 6.7% for electrical and pharmacological cardioversion, respectively). No deaths or severe complications were reported.

Electrical cardioversion has a favourable safety profile and appears to be a more effective method than pharmacological cardioversion for the treatment of permanent AF after cardiac valve replacement, once the heart has returned close to its normal size.