title: Ambulatory electrical cardioversion of atrial fibrillation.
abstract: Elective electrical cardioversion of atrial fibrillation is an effective and safe cardiac procedure in selected patients. It is most often performed during a short hospital stay or in an outpatient setting of a hospital. In a retrospective analysis, we report our experience on electrical cardioversions in private practice without a hospital stand-by performed by a cardiologist and an anesthesiologist in concert. Sixty patients with a mean age of 66+/-8 years and a typical spectrum of cardiac diseases in stable condition were chosen for the ambulatory procedure. The immediate success rate of electrical cardioversion was 83%. Within the next 3 months, a relapse of atrial fibrillation occurred in 46%. Following 87 procedures in 60 patients, 3 complications requiring a hospital admission occurred. One of these three patients had suffered from a short syncope without other deficits potentially due to cerebral embolism. Apart from these complications, no patient suffered a thromboembolic complication or a cerebral problem following electrical cardioversion. We conclude that elective electrical cardioversion of atrial fibrillation can be performed safely, effectively and comfortable for patient and physician following a preceding evaluation and counseling by a cardiac specialist.
authors.affiliation: damianfranzen@t-online.de
authors.forename: Damian
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Franzen
authors.forename: Klaus
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Brombach
authors.forename: Hartmut
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Möbius
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000553:Ambulatory Care; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000628:therapy*; D004554:Electric Countershock / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012008:Recurrence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012449:Safety; D016896:Treatment Outcome