Acute pulmonary edema after cardioversion of cardiac arrhythmias.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the occurrence of acute pulmonary edema after cardioversion of arrhythmias.


METHODS
Cases, case series, and related articles on the subject identified through a comprehensive literature search were examined.


RESULTS
Thirty cases (23 males) of post cardioversion acute pulmonary edema were identified. The mean age was 53.8 +/- 13 years (range, 18 to 75 years). Underlying arrhythmias were atrial fibrillation (69%), atrial flutter (24%), supraventricular tachycardia (4%), and ventricular tachycardia (4%). The duration of arrhythmia preceding cardioversion varied widely ranging from 1 day to 13 years. Twenty-six (87%) patients had concomitant cardiovascular disease comprising of coronary artery disease (38%), rheumatic heart disease (23%), cardiomyopathy (23%), and hypertension (8%). Direct current electrical cardioversion was used in 28 (93%) patients and pacing in two (7%) patients. Occurrence of pulmonary edema was independent of the amount of energy used for cardioversion (range 20 to 1280 Joules, mean 263 +/- 27 Joules). Short acting general anesthetic drugs were administered in 14 (47%) and sedation in eight (27%) patients. Sinus rhythm was established in 23 (77%) patients. Duration to develop pulmonary edema after cardioversion was available in 23 patients and ranged from immediately to 96 h. Pulmonary edema occurred within 15 min after cardioversion in 22%, within 3 h in 30%, within 24 h in 30%, within 48 h in 17% and within 96 h in remaining 4% of patients. Three patients required mechanical ventilation.


CONCLUSIONS
The rare complication of acute pulmonary edema after cardioversion has been reported mostly in patients with underlying cardiac disease, and is independent of the amount of energy used for cardioversion.
Gowda
Ramesh M
RM
Division of Cardiology, Beth Israel Medical Center, New York, USA.
Misra
Deepika
D
Khan
Ijaz A
IA
Schweitzer
Paul
P
D000208:Acute Disease; D001145:Arrhythmias, Cardiac / Q000628:therapy*; D004554:Electric Countershock / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000150:complications; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011654:Pulmonary Edema / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D013997:Time Factors