[External electrical cardioversion of atrial arrhythmia: predictive criteria of success].
OBJECTIVE
Supraventricular arrhythmia is a major public health problem because of its prevalence and clinical consequences. The first step of the treatment usually consists in restoring sinusal rhythm. The aim of this study is to evaluate results and predictive factors of success of electrical cardioversion.


METHODS
We studied a series of 143 consecutive electric cardioversion preformed in 131 French patients.


RESULTS
The rate of successful direct current cardioversion was 91.2%. Negative predictive factors are the height body mass index and the age of arrhythmia. Atrial flutter is a predictive factor of success. These results agree with published results. Our study highlights the interest of some nonantiarrhythmic drugs received by the patient during the period before the direct current cardioversion. Thus, a spironolactone treatment appears to be a new predictive factor of the success of electrical cardioversion (success in patients treated with spironolactone: 100% vs 89% without, P = 0.04).


CONCLUSIONS
Our results agree with usual predictive factors of the success of cardioversion. Nevertheless, a new approach is that of the positive effect of spironolactone on cardioversion. A prospective randomized study is necessary to confirm this result.
Paziaud
O
O
Hôpital européen Georges-Pompidou, 20-40, rue Leblanc, 75908 Paris, France. olivier.paziaud@libertysurf.fr
Piot
O
O
Rousseau
J
J
Copie
X
X
Lavergne
T
T
Guize
L
L
Le Heuzey
J Y
JY
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001145:Arrhythmias, Cardiac / Q000628:therapy*; D004554:Electric Countershock / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006325:Heart Atria; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies