Having read up extensively on what to expect when having my 1st cardioversion I thought I was well prepared with what laid ahead.
All initially went as expected, the cardiologist explained the procedure and the risks involved I signed the consent form, pads were then attached to my chest and back and sedation (I assume) was introduced via the cannula in my arm. The cardiologist checked my pupils and then told me to close my eyes.
A couple of minutes later I was given an electric shock which felt like I had been kicked in the chest by a horse. This process was repeated twice more and on the third attempt my heart went into NSR.
I can clearly remember all 3 shocks and the force of each upon my chest each time.
I also had a red imprint of the pad on my chest which took 24 hours before I could even bear a shirt touching that part of my skin.
Is this really what a cardioversion is like as it’s certainly not what I had read prior to the procedure.
I'm sorry you had this experience which is not acceptable in my opinion. It sounds as though you were not properly sedated.
I had a similar experience about 28 years ago when I was supposedly anaesthetised and at that time paddles were used on the chest. I felt each thud as though an elephant was stamping on my chest and screamed out each time (? x3). When I came to I felt quite traumatised . The nurses and then the anaesthetist questioned me as to what I felt as I had screamed during the procedure. Obviously I had not been given sufficient anaesthesia. Since then I have had a further 21 dccvs but have to say that I got a bit upset prior to the few after that first one in case history repeated !
More recently I was talking to an anaesthetist about my experience and she said that would not be tolerated now and would be investigated.
PS....I used to get burns on my chest when paddles were used in the early days but these days I only need one shock to put me back and so no evidence !
I had the cardioversion through my private health insurance so it was carried out in a private ward of what is a cardiothoracic centre, so I would have thought it was a good place to be.
The sedation was given by my cardiologist and I can remember being given more sedation after the first shock but I still felt all 3 shocks. I remember the nurse having trouble inserting the cannula maybe something went wrong there.
I also shouted out each time so those there would have known something was amiss. My cardiologist is due to arrange a follow up appointment in 4 weeks so I will most certainly raise the issue with him then.
I also received one of these text messages from the hospital where they ask you to rate your experience which I rated as poor, in a follow up text I explained why and will see where that goes.
I’m pleased I’m currently in NSR but it does make me hesitant if I need another cardioversion.
Not surprised DenBoy! That would put me off for life. I hope you enjoy NSR so that you never have to repeat the experience but if AF returns at least you now know you would have a good chance with ablation.
It will be very interesting to hear what your cardiologist has to say! I have always had an anaesthetist present for my cardioversions and a check list with them beforehand.
As an aside, I remember asking the nurse the name of the anaesthetist beforehand and she said...I don't know, never seen him before
😬 ..At that time there were newspaper reports of a masquerading doctor 🤔 .......
Im so sorry you had such a greadful experience. Ive had 2 cardioversions always a generallanaesthetic. A cardiologist cannot give a general anaesthetic that should have been explained fully to you beforehand. I would have blue murder with him.
I believe there was an anaesthetist in the room but they didn’t introduce themself which they should have.
I think the anaesthetist gave the cardiologist the sedative which he injected into the cannula which as you say is not correct. The anaesthetist should have also checked it was working.
I will be taking all these matters up with the cardiologist when I have my next review and see what he has to say.
~That's absolutely dreadful Jalia - I'm so sorry to read of your experience & how that has left an indelible imprint in & on your field of memories, horrific ones at that too ~
Thank you Megams . .....a long time ago now and I've had so many positive experiences since to help erase the memory (almost....) I have a superb local hospital close at hand and hope I won't need any further cardioversions after my 4th ablation 6 months ago!
Doesn’t sound at all right to me, I’ve only had one CV which required only one shock but I never felt a thing, nor did I have any after effects. I think you should mention it if or when you have a review. Just hope it works for you but even if it only lasts for a short time, it does mean you are likely to respond well to having an ablation should it be offered….
• in reply to
Hi Flapjack,
Yes I am going to raise it in my next review with my cardiologist and see what comes of it.
I was surprised it took 3 shocks to achieve NSR as the nurse in charge said at the beginning that most patients are successful with their first shock.
Your comment on ablation is noted, one positive at least to come out of the experience.
Ooh Den, I too have had lots of cardioversions and have never been aware of any of the shocks. That must have been awful for you - a horrible experience! You should have gone out like a light right away when the anaesthetic was given. Fortunately I always reverted after one shock so have never had problems with reddening of my skin. I always say on this forum that I like being cardioverted because I feel so ill when my heart is out of rhythm. To wake up feeling normal is the best thing in the world. I swear I would kiss the feet of the people doing it if they wanted me too. I get quite tearful thanking them.
I was once in A&E with a high heart rate and they were going to cardiovert me without any anaesthetic at all, well I can tell you, just the shock of being told that immediately put my heart back into normal sinus rhythm!
Yes, certainly bring your horrible occurrence up when you see your cardiologist. So sorry for you.
Hi Den . I've had a few and no problems - however we’re all unique. It sounds like you were not sedated enough. You must mention this if you have another. I had one at A&E with just sedation - would have felt it but can't remember a thing. Sometimes doctors trip up - get stuck in and mention your problem if it happens again. I've got another in two weeks time - am I worried. Nah. Bring it on. Positive vibes help although I fully understand your nerves about another. However I have no fear about it at all.
You are now back in NSR - great news.
Paul
Edit - it does sound like you didn't have enough 'knock out stuff'. Please Den don't let this put up you off if your cardio recommends another one. For sure though tell them about what has happened. Jean said "You should have gone out like a light right away when the anaesthetic was given". I agree 100%. I had one in A&E and being kicked in the chest by a donkey is a good way to put it. However it sounds to me like the anaesthetic was not enough for you. Your weight should be checked first and then the right amount given. It sounds to me like they made a right b%ll's up of it. It's rare but not acceptable. Normally you won't know a thing about it. Please don't let it put you off from having another - make sure though you explain what happened the last time.
Yes - I would. I have edited my post and I agree with you.
I wouldn't fancy that. Please note I was given a CV just under sedation in A&E so I do what's it like. I was also given drugs (in A&E) to drop my HR to more or less nothing. Not nice I can tell you.
I do what it's about and have been there. For most people though CV is ok. Not all I know. However for most it's ok. There are times for a limited few where it goes wrong - for most though there's nothing to it.
I would have one right now if I could. Does it bother or scare me ? No is the simple answer. A visit to the dentist is worse.
I've had one just under sedation - nothing to it, When you go and you are 'put you under' you don't know a thing about it.
A CV is nothing imho.
Have a great weekend.
Paul
Edit - Jalia. The posts here will scare people going for a CV. There's nothing to it. You are put under and wake up 10 minutes later (hopefully in NSR) and have a nice cup of tea. There are exceptions I know but 99% it's fine. There's no need to worry (IMO) for folks booked in for one. There's nothing to it. I'm sorry to hear about yours and Den's experience but it's not the normal way. I also know BobD had a bad time with one. But for most people they go fine. You don't know a thing about it when it's been done. I can tell the 'first timers' as soon as I walk in to the room. Scared and worried. Folks like me who have had it before just joke and laugh. I hope @JeanJennie50 sees this post and reponds.
Paul , I've also had the drug you mention in A& E , had a couple of docs around my bed and warned I would feel very strange before it took effect. ( Adenosine?) It had no effect on me so had dccv. All of my 22 DCCVs were 'emergency' most were in theatre but some in A&E or on CCU
I am so very sorry this happened to you. I complain and criticize my healthcare, but I have to say the cardioversion I received was so professional I was a little surprised after the other healthcare I experienced. My room was filled with people, there were 2 anesthesiologists, 2 or 3 nurses & my cardiologist. I also had a TEE which takes longer than cardioversion. I must have gone into NSR on the first try because my friend said she hardly had time to open her book when she heard me being wheeled back down the hall. I had no physical side effects. But as I'm writing this and so sorry for your experience, if you are still in NSR, I don't know if I would change places with you, as my procedure lasted 4 days. Here's hoping you stay healthy and forget how it happened!
This sounds awful and you must carry it through to a full discussion of went on during your cardioversion. I have not had one but had a catheter hole in the heart closed under sedation .Apart from a top up of morphine at one point all was quiet while the doctors got on with the job.It took 45 minutes and I was aware of what was going on but there was nothing to alarm me. Do take heart from what people have reported here in answer to your post. You must get to the bottom of what happened.
I feel for you and hope once they are told they will be very understanding. In my case when I felt the donkey kicking, it was when they thought after my ablation I was still sedated enough to give me a cardioversion but I wasn't and it was a horrible experience. When I have had previous cardioversions ( 6 ) they have all been perfect in a proper area with at least 5 people around, but this was just a nurse and I assume the cardiologist , a quick optimistic job!
What an unpleasant experience, I’ve had numerous cardioversions under sedation it was explained that you may feel something but not remember it. I’ve had several done on the ward and apparently yelled out enough to distress others, however I can’t remember, I have always reverted to nsr after 1 attempt but also always get burns front and back red and raised for about 24 hr then just an outline of the pad shape which takes about a week to heal, they send me home with hydrocortisone cream now. You need to speak to your cardiologist and get it added to your notes. Some people see it as complaining but any professional can only do better if their aware they didn’t get it right on this occasion. Good luck with staying in nsr.
Lordy DenBoy, this sounds horrific and for little old me who has yet to have this procedure done, it's terrifying! It's been suggested as the next step but reading your experience has really scared the heck out of me. I think they'll have to put me totally out if it comes to pass that they do this. Good to hear you are ok though.stay well,
Don't worry ! To all intents and purposes you will be completely out of it .I've had a total of 22 over the years , my last one 8 months ago so a very experienced patient. Absolutely nothing to worry about. It's just the thought of it.
Don’t be put off by my bad experience, someone made a mistake which I need to get to the bottom of. From all the replies I have received it is a one off.
Please use my experience to your advantage, tell the anaesthetist your nervous, tell them of my experience if you want, tell them to make sure you are completely sedated and you won’t know anything until you wake up and the procedure is done.
So sorry to hear that you had this experience. I had a cardioversion last April [1 shock] as the usual interventions [adenosine, etc] just didn't work anymore with me and I was monitored for around 12 hours but my heart wouldn't revert back itself. I was sedated, didn't feel a thing but was pretty much out of it afterwards as I couldn't even remember them taking the pads off so I must have gotten the correct dose of anaesthetic. It worked for me for several months but still get A Fib episodes but they convert themselves.
when i had cardioversion i was knocked out cold and never felt a thing, woke next morning and had breakfast ,throughout the day kept drifting in and out of sleep for rest of day, certainly never felt the shocks.
I would suggest you get in touch with your local PALS group, you’ll probably find them via your local health authority, and place an official complaint. This just isn’t acceptable. Hope you feel better soon
I’m sorry to hear of your experience. As others have said, don’t let it put you off further treatment if you need it but I’d mention it to the anaesthetist beforehand. After a couple of experiences when I didn’t respond to the anaesthetic I now always mention this to the anaesthetist before any procedure
I’ve been told various things - they can’t have waited long enough, your heart doesn’t circulate it fast enough (my fault again, eh!), and one put a monitor on my brain to check I was out.
I've had eight and never remembered any of them! Though apparently I made a loud yelp at each shock and once I joined in a conversation via nods and smiles thorught the procedure.
I'm sorry you had such a horrible experience. Hopefully, you wont need another one - if you do tell them you need the elephant sedative 😆
Well that sounds like an horrific experience for you. I’ve had 2 cardioversions and both procedures (One private one NHS) were exemplary. As are 99.5% of others I suspect. I’m going to jump in on the side of the medical staff here. Others suggest you should complain, but a complaint just doesn’t seem like the right word to me. The nurses and doctors in that room were almost certainly doing the best they could for you. They will have done it thousands of times without problems. What happened to you doesn’t mean that anyone made a mistake. But for sure it needs thorough investigation. You need to know if a duty of care was not exercised or more importantly if you are different in some way so that any repeat cardioversion you need will not repeat the experience you had.
I certainly don’t remember the medical team checking my pupils. If that is standard practice then I was well out before they did it. But I suspect that it is a check to see that you are properly sedated and so now the question is, did the cardiologist carry on regardless, in which case a complaint is in order, or were the signs all good and are you just damn unlucky. For sure you need to know why you were unlucky. Someone with better medical knowledge can maybe enlighten us on that matter.
Anyway, pleased to hear that you are in NSR. I haven’t been so lucky in that respect.
I am so sorry you had that experience and shocked at the medics that inflicted it on you! You should really investigate if they were not following procedure. I had mine 4 months ago. They inserted the cannula and stuck the pads on my chest. They must have introduced anaesthesia via the cannula as I don’t remember anything after that until I came around with the wonderful peaceful feeling of having no more AFib. This was NHS not private.
Same thing happened to me in 2013. I felt the first shock like a kick in the chest and grunted. Didnt feel the next two. The nurse joked with me afterwards about being kicked by a onkey. Another nurse told me the anaesthetisr was reallygood as he only just puts people under meaning they recover more quickly.The good thing is its not thar bad, I,ve beenhit harder playing rugby!
I had one in April of 2020. Didn't feel a thing. When I woke up I asked the nurse if it was over, she said it was, but nobody was saying anything(there was another nurse in the room). I asked where the doctor was and the nurse said, I can page him for you!! I said, do it. He never came back in for questions or to see how I was doing. Although the procedure worked for me, it was the last time I was in that hospital, as I moved everything to the mayo clinic. I agree with others that you probably didn't have enough fairy juice!
I never had had one until the last Christmas Day when I was taken to the hospital under an emergency as I had suddenly after Christmas Eve my heart beating between 185/190 and it was imposible to make it go down to its normal rhythm . As soon as I arrived they though it was a SVT and when they checked my they found that I had COVID notwithstanding I did not have the previous day any fever, any cough , any pain but only a head pain from time to time which I used to have and I didn’t pay attention, because my oxygen saturation was fine.
So, after a normal Christmas Eve I found myself during Christmas Day in a intensive care unit with a supposed SVT plus COVID.
I only had a similar event in August 2019 but only lasted have an huir or even less and I controlled it with a doble dosis of aspirin and that was it. At that time when I was checked by the cardiologist he confirm that I didn’t have cardiovascular clogging at all and that the high palpitation could have been the result of my hypothyroidism and my medication at the time ( Levothyroxine) dosis was reduce . Since then I did have any further similar palpitation until this last Christmas Day.
This last time was totally different at the point I needed to be taken to the hospital and I received an excellent medical attention . As they were not able to bring down my heart beating through the traditional method there was not other option that a cardio version but they started with pharmacological one with adenosine . I was not sedated at all. I was in a critical situation with beating not below 185 and with the uncertainty about how COVID could develop itself .
So, I felt everything . When I was injected with adenosine I felt like an enormous pressure on my chest, first time in my life, and one of a sudden as soon as my heart recovery the normal beat rate I felt a confortable descompresión and I started gradually relaxing and resting .
I was in the hospital under observation two days . They discharged me because they knew that as far as COVID was concern I didn’t have any problem neither in my lungs nor in any other part of my respiratory system and I stay at home a isolated during 14 days meanwhile resting , relaxing and waiting very anxiously for the COVID development to concluded positively and to recover from my heart episode.
Summarizing: the conclusion was that I had sinus tachycardia and that COVID could have been incidental and my hypothyroidism too. Also stress could have contributed to the episode . If I had had cardiovascular problems as most of people of my age ( 71 years old) have, I wouldn’t have overcome a hearth beating like the one I had because it started at home at 4.30 am in the morning while I was sleeping and we reached the hospital two hours after that and they were able to recover my normal beating around 7.30 am. because the danger of blood clogging as a direct result of such wild hearth rhythm .
Pharmacological conversion worked in my case . COVID is gone and I returned to my normal way of life but first of all taking everything more calm and easy because stress management is one of the key. Furthermore I am on Bisoprolol 5 mg and rosusvastatin 5 mg plus my new dosage of levothyroxine 0.50. I was not given the daily aspiring because I didn’t have acute cardio syndrome .
We still have to find out what caused the sinus thaquycardia . It could have been my hypothyroidism and / or my stress and / or COVID , or all three together.
I’m sorry to hear what a horrendous time you had, it must have been frightening. There is no doubt that the nhs is the best when it comes to dealing with an emergency as in your case.
I’m the same age as yourself and my A-fib started early morning with a heart rate of 145 which caused me to be unsteady. In A&E my heart rate settled at 100 and Bisoprolol then brought it down further. Their aim is to bring the heart rate down below 90 at rest to avoid heart damage.
I’ve not heard much about Pharmacological conversion but glad it worked in your case.
You’re right in that controlling stress is key to all this and more than likely Covid played a part.
Pleased to hear you are back to your normal self, take care.
DenBoy, that's not at all how my experience(s) went. I was given an intravenous drug and was instantly unconscious. I woke up 5 minutes later feeling on top of the world -- the cardioversion immediately brought me out of a-fib. It happened the same way for my second cardioversion a few years later. They were both very positive procedures, in both personal experience and outcome. I'm so sorry to hear you had such traumatic results. Have you checked with your doctor to find out why?
As far as know there are two ways to provide cardio version : one is through the so called Pharmacological CV ( PhCV- no electric shock at all) . The doctor injects adenosine and if it works is ok. Adenosine is the first drug to be used. If it doesn’t work there are others but with colateral effects. Adenosine is very safe. If PhCV works you feel an immediate descompresión on the chest because resets the hearth bringing the beating down to sinus rhythm . It may not work. In such case there is the other one which is the conventional electro shock CV for which the patient needs a previous sedative . The Pharmaceutical CV doesn’t need it. According to information I got, it’ s better first to try with PhCV unless of course the health center / doctor in charge understand that the conventional CV is the most appropriate.
I'm sorry you had that experience. I made the mistake of watching a video on CV before I had mine done, and the video depicted someone who had that same experience. Fortunately, mine was entirely painless as I was obviously properly sedated. You obviously were not.
I've probably had about 7-8 cardioversions, none like what you described, as I was well sedated. After each one, I felt like I had had a gentle nap. To me, the thing I liked the least was having to lie still for about an hour. What you went through sounds barbaric. I would complain to the doctor, the hospital and everyone. It shouldn't be that way. If that's their protocol, they need to come out of the dark ages and into the 21st century.
I had a cannula fitted although the nurse seemed to have trouble fitting it.
I can remember the doctor giving me something via the cannula and also topping it up after I yelled following the first shock.
I will be raising the matter with my cardiologist when I see him for a review in a months time for an explanation and will take the matter from there depending on his answers.
My CV was 5 years ago and I didn't feel a thing even though 3 shocks were given before NSR was established. Sadly it didn't last more than 3 weeks and I'm not likely to have any more due to my diagnosis. You must tell them how you feel as in todays medicine that experience you had is simply not acceptable.
I will certainly be raising the matter with my cardiologist when I see him in a months time and will want an explanation.
If he just brushes it off then I will be making a complaint but as I’ve had it done privately then I assume that will be via my medical insurance provider.
That wasn't my experience at all. I was put under completely and woke up not knowing it had been done. I could see red mark outlines, but not enough to be painful. Sadly, mine was unsuccessful. Hoping you're worked ..you earned.
That happened to me when I had my first DCCV. I screamed so loudly, hubby, who was sat in the nearby ward reading his paper, heard me as did the other couple of patients waiting for theirs to be done. It did indeed feel like being kicked in the chest.Apparently, they were pretty much stopped from bolting for the door.
They topped up the sedation for the subsequent shock but when I came round, the first thing I asked was "Did I scream?"
They were very embarrassed by it and it hasn't happened on the few I've had since and hopefully not the one I'm having this Friday.
I've also had the burns, front and back after each one. Savlon works wonders.😊.
It’s obviously rare but not rare enough, I can understand you screaming, I certainly shouted.
I would suggest you tell the anaesthetist as she sedates you that she checks you are asleep before they start, they should do that as a matter of course.
Thanks. I'm up to about 8 now and its not happened since as they seem to be on the ball now....... sods law they won't be on Friday now I've said that 😁.
I am so sorry. Dang that should have never happened. Couldn't they see you were feeling it 😔
Be sure to review the Dr on Health Grades. You might even find he has been reviewed as well. What did the team say when you told them. Run from those Cardiologist's!
Hi there. No I live in Washington State. I am sure you have something similar. I would hope the UK would. I took me a few Cardiologists to find the right one to send me off for an ablation. When you get a response from them please post back their excuses. That should have never happened to you 😑
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Cardioversion recovery?
I think my first cardioversion failed
Cardioversion 
Cardioversion not available on the NHS?
