title: [Not Available].
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. Electronic address: iklo_coulibaly@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Iklo
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Coulibaly
authors.affiliation: Unité des Soins Intensifs de l'Institut de Cardiologie d'Abidjan, Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire.
authors.forename: Kouao Christophe
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Konin
authors.affiliation: Unité des Soins Intensifs de l'Institut de Cardiologie d'Abidjan, Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire.
authors.forename: Anicet
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Adoubi
authors.affiliation: Service d'Anesthésie Réanimation de l'Institut de Cardiologie d'Abidjan, Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire.
authors.forename: Joseph Kouadio
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Kouame
authors.affiliation: Service de Médecine de l'Institut de Cardiologie d'Abidjan, Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire.
authors.forename: Fatoumata
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Traore
authors.affiliation: Service de Médecine de l'Institut de Cardiologie d'Abidjan, Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire.
authors.forename: Djénamba
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bamba-Kamagaté
authors.affiliation: Unité des Soins Intensifs de l'Institut de Cardiologie d'Abidjan, Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire.
authors.forename: Roland Aka
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: N'Guetta
authors.affiliation: Service de Médecine de l'Institut de Cardiologie d'Abidjan, Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire.
authors.forename: Marie-Paule
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: N'Cho-Motto
authors.affiliation: Service de Médecine de l'Institut de Cardiologie d'Abidjan, Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire.
authors.forename: Mahama
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ouattara
authors.affiliation: Service de Médecine de l'Institut de Cardiologie d'Abidjan, Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire.
authors.forename: Jean-Baptiste
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Anzouan-Kacou
authors.affiliation: Service de Cardiopédiatrie de l'Institut de Cardiologie d'Abidjan, Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire.
authors.forename: Evelyne
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ake-Traboulsy
keywords: Afrique subsaharienne; Subsaharan Africa; arrhythmias; arythmies; cardioversion électrique externe; complications; direct current cardioversion