title: [Direct current cardioversion in Abidjan: report of a ten-year practice in Institute of Cardiology of Abidjan, Ivory Coast].
abstract: Direct current cardioversion is effective in arrhythmias' termination. Few is known about its use in our practice. This work aims to report its outcomes over a ten-year period in Abidjan.
  
  
  METHODS
  One thousand, three hundred and ninety one charts of arrhythmic patients were reviewed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Cardioversion was attempted in 102 patients. One hundred and eighty one shocks were delivered with a mean energy of 262, 1 joules. Success occurred in 84 patients (82,3%). Cardioversion failed in 18 patients mostly in atrial fibrillation. Eight serious complications (7,8%) occurred including 1 sinus node dysfunction, 1 pulmonary oedema, 1 metrorrhagia, 2 stroke, 1 pulmonary embolism. Two patients with ventricular tachycardia died of end-stage heart failure and aftermath of a mitral valve surgery.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Direct current cardioversion is effective and safe in our practice. Complications are predominantly due to the medical environment such as antiarrhythmic drugs use or clinical conditions.
authors.affiliation: Service de Médecine de l'Institut de Cardiologie d'Abidjan, Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire. iklo_coulibaly@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Iklo
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Coulibaly
authors.forename: Kouao Christophe
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Konin
authors.forename: Anicet
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Adoubi
authors.forename: Joseph Kouadio
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Kouame
authors.forename: Fatoumata
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Traore
authors.forename: Djénamba
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bamba-Kamagaté
authors.forename: Roland
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Aka N'guetta
authors.forename: Marie-Paule
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: N'cho-Motto
authors.forename: Mahama
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ouattara
authors.forename: Jean-Baptiste
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Anzouan-Kacou
authors.forename: Evelyne
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ake-Traboulsy
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001145:Arrhythmias, Cardiac / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000628:therapy; D007560:Cote d'Ivoire; D004554:Electric Countershock / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016896:Treatment Outcome