The role of cardioversion therapy in patients with implanted cardioverter defibrillators.
Stable ventricular tachycardias can be treated with pacing or electrical countershock. Use of pacing includes several advantages, but it is not always effective; when pacing is not effective, shocks can be used for cardioversion of the arrhythmia. Use of such shocks includes advantages and disadvantages, but generally they are well tolerated and form an important part of the treatment of patients with sustained ventricular arrhythmias.
Nathan
A W
AW
Department of Cardiology, St. Bartholomew's Hospital, West Smithfield, London, England.
D002304:Cardiac Pacing, Artificial / Q000379:methods; D017147:Defibrillators, Implantable; D004554:Electric Countershock / Q000379:methods; D004562:Electrocardiography; D004867:Equipment Design; D006801:Humans; D010138:Pacemaker, Artificial; D017180:Tachycardia, Ventricular / Q000628:therapy*