British Heart Foundation - Your guide to cardioversion treatment

Do you have a cardioversion treatment coming up? Watch this video to find out what to expect.

[brookita]

The nurse is so kind. I just love her!!

[limpetr]

Had this done last week and been back in normal sinus rhythm since. To anyone concerned I can assure you it is entirely painless and not even slightly unpleasant. One minute I was chatting with the anaesthetist. The next I was being told it had all gone well, and being asked if I wanted a cup of tea and a sandwich. Was in and out in 2.5 hours.

[AmariTheKingOfYT]

I love this video... thank you for producing and uploading it. I suffer from AF in exactly the same way as the gentleman in the video and until I saw what actually happens I felt very apprehensive about the whole thing. Now I can't wait until the same thing happens to me.
Thank you so much.
<3

[adelinelaidley]

Thank you very much for the video I am going to have it done I was very scared my cardiologist mentioned cardioversion last time I saw him and I said no no, but now watching the video and read other AF patients experience, my next appointment if mentioned I will say yes let's do it . Thanks again

[peternewman]

I had this done at Medway Maritime Hospital on 12–1-2019 with 100% success with only one shock. I had watched a video on YouTube of a Woman having this done in America prior to me having this done which put my mind totally at rest and I was in and out of hospital within two hours and fifty minutes. For anybody having this procedure please do not worry for one second. The only very minute discomfort is the cannula being inserted which is the same as having a blood test. Strange to say and I sincerely mean this, It was a pleasant experience and a massive thank you to all 0f the staff at Medway hospital who looked after me.

[paulmccloud]

Thanks for the video. My mother is having it done next week and helped put her at a bit more ease.

[YorkshireRose]

I've been here five times since March 2020, and my most recent cardioversion was on Christmas morning (25/12/2021). My first procedure gave me about six months of normality before I slipped back into AF at the end of August 2020. A second procedure gave me a almost a year - I was cardioverted again in September 2021. I slipped into AF again in late October, and this time it was especially painful, I was sweating profusely, pale as a ghost and needed rehydration, a third procedure set me right once again, but unfortunately it didn't last and I wound up in A&E yet again (Rinse, spin, repeat). At this fourth juncture I was beginning to ask what was the point? Maybe I should just get used to it, and learn to live with it, but I'm one of those folk who get it really badly. I toughed it out for almost a month with my heart rate at a typical 120bpm, but I couldn't function anything like normal, and eventually collapsed after a short shopping trip. So once again, I wind up in A&E, being admitted, rehydrated and stabilised over a couple of days and then cardioverted again. All went well until December 23rd, and it all went catawampus yet again. Another near collapse (pre-syncope), a 999 call, blues and twos, A&E, Resus, Admission to ward, Telemetry, had to be stabilised, and was told I 'needed' to be shocked out of it (cardioverted yet again), but this time, we're going for catheter ablation as soon as is practicably possible. So now in coronary care, I was prepared for the procedure to take place in the evening of 24/12, but there were many emergencies that evening, and much as they tried, the necessary team members were scattered far and wide dealing with emergency calls. So, about midnight my procedure was stood down, but I was told I'd be straight into the procedure first thing in the morning - and so I was.

Five times cardioverted, every time it takes just one shock, 150 Joules, and I'm straight back into sinus rhythm, but it takes so little to push me out again - an infection, a shock (bad news etc), physical stress, or even just an allergic reaction. Beware of certain medicines, they too can put you into AF, including some of those meant to control arrhythmias! I've been through almost the entire formulary. Some work well, but don't work for very long, like Flecainide. Others work for a very long time, but aren't as good at controlling the AF, like Propafenone. One, Dronedarone, actually sent my into AF after just one dose. If you're offered anti-arrhythmic drugs, do talk candidly with your cardiologist, especially if you have any unexpected side effects.

I can't say if this is NHS wide, or if it is a local rule, but at least where I attend, you usually get only three cardioversion procedures. I'm lucky, I've had five, to date, and catheter ablation is now on the cards.

At first, I was a bit daunted by the thought of an electric shock being 'zapped' through my chest, but I can definitely say that the difference it makes is enough to dispel any misgivings I ever had. One thing which is of paramount importance is anticoagulation. It is crucial that if you have AF (at least as bad as mine, anyway) you are put onto a regular dose of an anticoagulant - Aspirin, though good at thinning the blood, will not do if cardioversion is likely. Medications such as Warfarin, Rivaroxiban, Epixaban, Edoxaban etc are essential to preventing the formation of blood clots, so again it's worth talking to your cardiologist to find out what's best for you. If like me, you find that one of the above has bad side effects, ask if your doctor can try you one something else - I went through all of the above before settling on Edoxaban which is the only one that doesn't cause problems for me.

Thankfully, in the UK cardioversion is carried out under anaesthetic, or more to the point, very heavy sedation, but rest assured that sedation means you are definitely not going to feel, hear, see, or remember anything of the procedure. Also, ignore the over dramatised images you see on TV, you're going to be leaping a foot into the air - That just doesn't happen! Yes, you body will give a bit of a jerk in response to the shock, and some people may react to a greater, or lesser, degree than others, but it really is not all that dramatic.

The pads used to deliver the shock can leave a bit of a mark around their edges, which can be sore for a day or so, but that's the worst of it, and although I've seen the red marks, they are feint, and I've never felt sore from them - They fade away very quickly, a bit like a very, very mild sunburn, they disappear in a day or two.

After the procedure, you're usually kept under observation for about four hours, but you'll be drinking tea and devouring sandwiches or biscuits long before then! - After that, you go home, as long as there is someone who can stay with you for the next twenty four hours or so. It's unlikely, but sometimes your heart rate may slow down, or your blood pressure can fall after the procedure, so it's important not to be alone for that twenty four hour period, just in case you need to go back to hospital - I never have, but for some it may be necessary to have medicines to increase your heart rate, just temporarily, until your heart gets used to beating properly again.

Honestly, the idea of an electric shock might be a bit scary to begin with, but it really isn't anything to worry about. It's all in a clinical setting. There is a good team of trained professionals looking after you, and you come out the other side feeling a hundred times better - I'd certainly have no qualms about future cardioversions, if they were ever needed.

[mikkilewis]

Having this done ne mxt week. This has alleviated much of my anxiety. Thank you!

[PobbieRoops]

I was diagnosed with AF 4 days ago and been back to hospital twice
Dr said today I'll probably need this
I hope I get it
This looks amazing !

[olivetrickle]

Thanks for this video, It has put me at ease..I’m having this done in 34 hours for the first time...Still a little bit scared, will keep you posted with the results on Friday April 3, 2019

[PeteHob]

God bless you for using propofol. I’ve seen too many of these videos where they just give some fentanyl and midazolam.

[Tonibel]

helpful, I am a pharmacy student and needed to understand this for a case study..rather helpful!

[TherymasterWidnes]

I had one of these, it worked, for 3 weeks and then I had to have an ablation and a further cardioversion. Fingers crossed I’m on the way back!

[yankeeuk]

I've had afib for thirty years, three ablations and quite a few cardio versions. Nothing to worry about with cardio version

[shaunadesmonddesmond]

Getting this done next week fingers crossed it works

[stevenmoore]

Had it done twice while in hospital didn't work came back again couple weeks later did ECG I was back in rhythm they couldn't believe it

[shellbell]

Wonder how long this man remained in NSR for?
It's such a shame there isn't a follow-up video.

[Enlightened-WOLF]

had mine yesterday felt better immediately 27/6/21

[briankosch]

I had it done last week. The worst part was the sore throat i had afterwards from the camera put down my throat to check for clots. The procedure is painless and quickly done leaving you feeling like yourself again. Like a mericle..

[mickeymunkchunk]

I'm also having this done I hope in the next few weeks, until tben I am on 360 mg Verapamil tablets a day and blood thinners, I have tinitus and feel very tired and sleepy like this guy said.