[Choice of the effective electrical power in cardioversion]

On the base of his own studies, the author established that the effective quantity of electric energy for cardioversion is from 150 to 350 W/s. A greater quantity of energy (285.6 +/- 53.8 W/s) is necessary in patients with idiopathic cardiomyopathy than in patients with heart defects, ischemic heart disease and idiopathic rhythm disorder (273.72 +/- 49.1 W/s). In patients with mitral stenosis and prostheses, the quantity used is greater as compared with that in valvulotomized patients and those with mitral-aortic defect. In ventricular tachycardia the mean quantity of electric energy used for the restoration of sinus rhythm proved to be the smallest (182.9 +/- 37.5 W/s), followed by auricular fibrillation (229.5 +/- 40.7 W/s), paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia (246.3 +/- 57.8 W/s) and auricular flutter--the most (278.8 +/- 51.7 W/s). A correlation has been established between height, body mass, chest measurement and the quantity of electric energy used. It has been proved that when the body mass is smaller then the difference between height and chest measurement, less quantity of energy is necessary for cardioversion, and when it is greater than that difference--the quantity of energy used is greater. The premedication with quinidine does not reduce the quantity of electric energy used.