Cardioversion

[Nickibmibile]

Has anyone had Cardioversion? What does it entail and how did/do you feel afterwards? Did it correct your AF? Concerned

[SRMGrandma Volunteer]

Hi there, Many, many people here have had a cardioversion. It is a procedure that causes great concern if you've never had one, and then once you have, you wonder why you were so concerned because it is pretty easy. You will have an IV, an EKG , and then when it is time for the procedure some very cold pads are put on your chest and your back and then you take a nice little propofol nap for 5 minutes or so and if all goes according to plan you are back awake then in normal rhythm. How long that lasts is always the million dollar question. I've had three altogether, and the first one lasted 5 minutes, the second lasted one hour and the 3rd stuck and still going strong (post ablation) for over a year.

Bottom line is it's a nice nap with hopefully a great result.

[Nickibmibile in reply to SRMGrandma]

Thank you for your response. It's not that I'm worried about the procedure per se it's just .......

When you say an IV and EKG what exactly are they? And propofol nap? Is that sedation? Also ablation sounds brutal, is it? Sorry to ask so many questions.

I'm not new to heart problems mine began at 15 but I find at 49 I worry more, even about things I know a great deal about. Thank you

[Mazza23 in reply to Nickibmibile]

I had my 7th on Sunday in my case I have been in NSR for between 3months lately only 6weeks I usually have madasalam and propofol but they only gave me propofol on Sunday won't let them do that again procedure only takes a few minutes and in my case they do it in Ed I went in at2.30am and was home by 7.30am

[CDreamer in reply to Nickibmibile]

To answer your questions - EKG is American for ECG. Yes, propofol is sedation which causes you to nap. Ablation is a procedure which many, many of us have undergone, it is not nearly as brutal as mitral valve replacement. It is the nearest thing to a cure for AF.

If you go to the AFA website you will find loads of info which will tell you all about cardio versions, NOACS, drug treatments and ablations.

Most with AF see specialist cardiologists called Electrophysiologist or EPs.

Hope that helps and keep asking any questions you may have, knowledge is power in this AF malarkey!

[CDreamer in reply to CDreamer]

Oh - I forgot one - IV = intravenous drip into the vein - needle into hand or arm through which they administer drug.

[SRMGrandma Volunteer in reply to Nickibmibile]

It's always good to ask questions! An IV is the insertion of an intravenous line into your arm or hand as an open port for fluids or medications during a procedure It hurts a second when the needle is inserted, and is then pain free. An EKG / ECG is an electrocardiogram, a test that shows the electrical activity of the heart. It is accomplished by placing leads on your chest, arms, and legs and is totally pain free. A propofol nap is just the sleep from the anesthetic drug, propofol which is often the drug of choice, administered so that you do not feel a bit of the cardioversion.

I wouldn't call an ablation brutal, but it's not fun. Here in the US we typically are given general anesthesia and we sleep through it. Then there is a period of recovery as the areas in the groin heal from their puncture for the ablation catheters, and it takes 3-6 months for your heart to heal completely. It is no small procedure and should not be taken lightly, but the chance to be AF free is worth it for many. Often it works and sometimes it doesn't. I hope that helps.

[pottypete1]

Yes I have probably had 15 Cardoversions.

Normally they give you oxygen a quick General Anaesthetic and it is all over before you know it.

My experience was that it was always successful and I felt a great sense if relief and calm.

However we are all different.

Good luck

Pete

[Emsysy in reply to pottypete1]

Interested to know why you consider your 15 cardio versions were always successful !!

Why did you need so many if that was the case ?

I had one unsuccessful job and my cardiologist considered any more would be a waste of time and an unnecessary risk.

[pottypete1 in reply to Emsysy]

It depends how you measure success.

For me, I have paroxysmal AF and have had this condition for over 25 years.

Each time I slip into PAF on average once a month I suppose I need to be returned to NSR and my usual remedy is for me to take an extra dose of Flecanide, this is 'successful' 90% of the time.

When I have been unable to revert to NSR with Flecanide I go to the hospital and they cardivert me with a defibrillator and my comment described that they always have been successful in restoring my NSR.

You are right in that Cardoversion did not 'cure' me of PAF hence the fact that next Tuesday I am to receive my 4th AF ablation which will be my 5th ablation in total as my first ablation 7 years ago was for atrial flutter.

For me my numerous cardioversions were successful for example it is about 2 years since the lady one.

[Hidden]

I've had 2 now. First lasted almost 6 months, second one was done in a and e 3 weeks ago. Fingers crossed I'm still in nsr

I was worried to death for the first one, but after 6 months of AF it was amazing to come round, look at the monitor and see a steady heart rate at 55 BPM instead of the all over the place 95 to 140 BPM

Worst thing was the burns after the first one, but that was only discomfort and a small price to pay.

No burns with the second one

[Tessybear]

Yes I've had two cardioversions, both successful, as my heart was back in normal sinus rhythm afterwards, lasting quite a few months each time before I finally had an ablation.

Cardioversion involves sedating you, attaching electrical pads to strategic places on your chest and then sending an electric impulse into your heart to jolt it back into normal rhythm. It is a very common procedure that goes on all the time in hospitals. It wasn't painful for me as I was out of it with the sedation. After it was done, I felt a bit drowsy but quite well, and relieved my heart was back in normal rhythm. The first time they kept me in for observation for some hours, but after the second one I was up and about after half an hour and going home after my second one. The whole thing is done really quickly.

Like you I was really worried the first time, but don't panic about this procedure. No hospital procedure is exactly a barrel of laughs, but if it has been prescribed for you, it is for a good reason, so go with it and you'll wonder why you were so worried afterwards.

[Hidden]

I was in Afib about 4 months.... When cardiologist did a routine EKG .... He immediately put me on Meds and scheduled a cardioversion the next day. I went into hospital.... They put an IV into my arm...I was in bed and they wheeled me into the area with the machine....small machine. The placed electrode pads on the front of my chest and back..... Like a 7 inch piece of tape... Then they put you out and they do the cardioversion..... I woke up and they told me it did not work.... But I felt nothing and after a couple hours wait for the anastegia to wear off I went home. Total time about 6 hours.... The cardioversion itself was only about 10 min but your totally out and feel no pain.....it's an easy procedure and might work to bring you back to a normal rhythm.

[BobD Volunteer]

One of the things about this site is that although organised by AF Association in UK it has international status so often terms from one country do not match those from others. EKG in USA translates to ECG in UK for example.

My explanation of cardioversion is that you go into the anti room of an operating theatre where you will be prepared with pads either one each side of your chest or one front and one back. You will then be injected with some fairy juice and whilst you are away playing with the fairies they shock your heart through the pads which hopefully puts you back in normal sinus rhythm. The main purpose of the procedure is to see if you can be put back into rhythm as this may dictate future treatment options.

It is a very common thing for somebody with AF to have in the early days of treatment and whilst it does not cure the AF long term it is a good indicator apart form making you feel a little more normal for however long it lasts. This can be from an hour to years depending on how established you AF has become

Ablation is a completely different thing of course but again nowhere near as awful as you think.

Please go to AF Association main website and read up on these things. Alternatively if you have a query any time go into the search box and you will find all previous posts on that subject which may answer some of your questions.

[Nickibmibile in reply to BobD]

Thank you for your reply, it has been helpful

[Offcut]

I am going in for my 8th once I get a date. I also have had 3 ablations. But I have multi conditions that do not help the process. I am just the doctor's nightmare.

[Nickibmibile in reply to Offcut]

Snap. I seem to have several conditions that contradict each other but I still have them. I've had heart "issues" since the age of 15 so quite a while now!!

[Offcut in reply to Nickibmibile]

I was diagnosed in 1992 but had it for some years before that but the GP said not to worry about it so I did not!

[Stratton-sully]

Hi , I had AF from December '13 and cardioversion in September '14 and flew two days later and have never looked back.

I carry a bisopreol (Pill in pocket) for times of emergency, also have a congenital valve defect.

On my annual cardiologist visit last last month he said it is time for a replacement valve, I said just as well get it done while I still healthy.

Wheels in motion now with 3 appointments this month and holidays put on hold.

I digress, cardioversion:- turn up at 8am and home for lunch.

[Bexbutton]

I'm going for my first one a week tomorrow after being in AF since at least October 2015, probably longer. I've been so eager for this to come but now it's nearly here I'm getting nervous, more about the anaesthetic and whether it will work than the procedure itself. This will be my first ever anaesthetic so glad it's for a simple procedure. Fingers crossed it works for you

[PeterWh in reply to Bexbutton]

Don't worry. All of it is just like a walk in the park!!!!

Good luck

[Bexbutton in reply to PeterWh]

I'm sure it is, but my head doesn't believe me lol! I really hope I'll stay in NSR long enough for them to do an echo and see just what shape my heart is in. I maybe have cardiomyopathy but they can't confirm yet.

Thanks for the reassurance 😊

[djmnet]

Both ECG and EKG stand for electrocardiogram.

[Hidden]

I only had one cardioversion (pharmaceutically) when I experienced my heart racing for the first time and rushed to the ER. There they gave me an EKG and said that I was in A-fib. I didnt ever know what A-Fib was at the time. They gave me some meds through an IV.Shortly afterwards, my heart was back to normal and I felt so good, not to have my heart racing anymore. The nurse called over to the ER doctor that I was back in SR. Sbe said," Already, boy that was fast! That was in November 2015. I have a few episodes of A-fib a year, but usually last between one and two hours.