title: Improved clinical efficacy of external cardioversion by fluoroscopic electrode positioning and comparison to internal cardioversion in patients with atrial fibrillation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Despite using different electrode positions, "conventional" external DC cardioversion in patients with atrial fibrillation is ineffective in 6%-50% of cases. An alternative when DC cardioversion is not successful is low energy internal cardioversion, which is performed at increased risk. We tested the hypothesis that optimization of electrode pad position under fluoroscopy to encompass as much atrial muscle as possible might improve the success rate of external cardioversion and thus minimize the need for internal cardioversion.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifteen (9 males, 6 females) patients (age: 54 +/- 15 years, weight: 124 +/- 35 kg) with chronic atrial fibrillation (> 8 weeks) who had undergone unsuccessful conventional external cardioversion entered the study. Repeat conventional external cardioversion with electrodes in standard (right anterior and left posterior) positions was followed by "optimized" external cardioversion by positioning electrodes under fluoroscopy (using metallic markers). In case of failure, internal cardioversion was performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All 15 patients had undergone unsuccessful conventional external cardioversion with 360-J shocks. Eight patients (group A) reverted to sinus rhythm with one or two 360-J shocks using fluoroscopy-guided pad placement (53%). Six of the remaining 7 (86%) patients (group B) had successful internal cardioversion with biphasic shocks (12 +/- 3 J). The body weight and body mass index were statistically lower in group A vs group B (106 +/- 27 vs 145 +/- 33 kg, p = 0.03 and 35 +/- 8 vs 45 +/- 8 kg/m2, P = 0.48, respectively). There was no statistically significant in age, height, body surface area, duration of atrial fibrillation, amiodarone therapy, ejection fraction, or underlying heart disease.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Unsuccessful external DC cardioversion, in some patients, is in part due to suboptimal conventional positioning of electrode pads that can be improved under fluoroscopic guidance by achieving the best possible vector encompassing the right and left atria. The optimized external cardioversion technique may minimize the need for internal cardioversion, which remains an effective approach when external cardioversion fails.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Ohio State University Medical Center, Columbus, USA.
authors.forename: A A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Mehdirad
authors.forename: K L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Clem
authors.forename: C J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Love
authors.forename: S D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Nelson
authors.forename: S F
authors.initials: SF
authors.lastname: Schaal
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000638:Amiodarone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D006328:Cardiac Catheterization / Q000379:methods; D017147:Defibrillators, Implantable; D004554:Electric Countershock / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005471:Fluoroscopy; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006325:Heart Atria / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006339:Heart Rate; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D013318:Stroke Volume; D016896:Treatment Outcome