Elective cardioversion at a district general hospital: a retrospective evaluation of outcomes

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Electrophysiology

Background:

• Direct current cardioversion is a common treatment for abnormal heart rhythms like atrial fibrillation and atrial flutter.
• Previous studies suggested lower success rates for cardioversion in patients with heart failure and obesity.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the success and outcomes of elective direct current cardioversion.
• To assess cardioversion efficacy in patients with heart failure and obesity.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of elective cardioversion data from a general hospital.
• Evaluation of immediate and longer-term success rates across patient groups.

Main Results:

• High immediate success rates for direct current cardioversion were observed in the general patient population.
• Initial success rates remained high for patients with heart failure and obesity.
• A notable decrease in longer-term success was found in all patient groups.

Conclusions:

• Direct current cardioversion demonstrates high initial efficacy for various patient groups.
• Sustained rhythm control post-cardioversion is a challenge, necessitating further investigation for heart failure and obese populations.