Houston Cardiovascular Associates Houston Cardiovascular Associates

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Electrical Cardioversion for Atrial Fibrillation

Treatment Overview

Electrical cardioversion is a treatment for a heartbeat that isn't normal, such as atrial fibrillation. It uses a brief electric shock to reset your heart's rhythm.

Before the treatment, you will get medicine to make you sleepy. You should not feel any pain.

Your doctor will put patches on your chest. Or you might get them on both your chest and back. They send a brief electric current to your heart. In most cases, this restores the heart's normal rhythm right away.

Cardioversion itself takes about 5 minutes. But the whole procedure may take a few hours. That includes time to recover.

Abnormal heart rhythms sometimes come back after the treatment. You may choose to also take medicines. These may help your heart keep its normal rhythm.

What To Expect

After cardioversion, you will be monitored to make sure that you have a stable heart rhythm.

You might take a medicine (called a blood thinner) that prevents blood clots before and after the procedure. This medicine lowers your risk of a stroke.

Other medicines to help prevent the return of heart rhythm problems (antiarrhythmics) also may be given before and after the procedure.

Why It Is Done

Cardioversion is used:

  • As a non-emergency procedure to stop a heart rhythm problem that has not stopped on its own. These heart problems include atrial fibrillation, atrial flutter, and supraventricular tachycardia.
  • As an emergency procedure to stop a fast heart rate that is causing low blood pressure or severe symptoms. These heart rate problems include atrial fibrillation, atrial flutter, supraventricular tachycardia, and ventricular tachycardia.

How Well It Works

After this treatment, most people get back a normal heart rhythm right away.

But for many people, atrial fibrillation returns. Normal rhythm may last less than a day or for weeks or months. It depends on a few things. These things include how long you have had atrial fibrillation, what is causing it, and if you have another heart problem.

If you take antiarrhythmic medicines too, they can help you stay in a normal rhythm longer.

If atrial fibrillation returns, talk with your doctor about your treatment options. You may try cardioversion again or you may choose another treatment, such as catheter ablation or medicine.

Risks

Risks of the procedure include the following:

  • A blood clot may become dislodged from the heart and cause a stroke. Your doctor will try to decrease this risk by using anticoagulants or other measures.
  • The procedure may not work. You may need another cardioversion or other treatment.
  • Antiarrhythmic medicines used before and after the procedure or even the procedure itself may cause a life-threatening irregular heartbeat.
  • You could have a reaction to the medicine given to you before the procedure. But harmful reactions are rare.
  • You can get a small area of burn on your skin where the patches are placed.

Credits

Current as of: July 31, 2024

Author: Ignite Healthwise, LLC Staff
Clinical Review Board
All Healthwise education is reviewed by a team that includes physicians, nurses, advanced practitioners, registered dieticians, and other healthcare professionals.

Top of the page

Current as of: July 31, 2024

Author: Ignite Healthwise, LLC Staff

Clinical Review Board
All Healthwise education is reviewed by a team that includes physicians, nurses, advanced practitioners, registered dieticians, and other healthcare professionals.

Dear patient

I am excited to announce that I will be relocating my practice to Houston Methodist DeBakey Cardiology Associates. Starting November 4, 2024, my new address will be:

Houston Methodist DeBakey Cardiology Associates
6550 Fannin St.
Smith Tower, Suite 1901
Houston, TX 77030

Please note that my phone number and fax number will also change to the following:
24-Hour Telephone: 713-441-1100
Fax: 713-790-2643
Clinical Support Telephone (M-F, 8-5): 713-441-3515

I am excited about caring for you in my new office and hope you will make the transition with me. I will also continue to refill your medications as I have in the past. To assist, please provide your pharmacy with my new contact information.

Please consider checking your prescription refills to verify that you have enough medication on hand to last you until your next visit. Please note that your medical records will remain at my former office until you authorize their transfer. If you choose for me to continue providing your medical care, please complete and sign the enclosed “Authorization for Release of Medical Records” form and fax it to 713-790-2643. Once we receive your authorization, we will be happy to process the request for you.

Thank you for entrusting me with your medical care. My new team and I are dedicated to making this transition as seamless as possible. For help scheduling an appointment and transitioning your care, please call my new office number above.

I look forward to continuing your care at my new location.

Sincerely,
Gopi A. Shah, MD

Dear patient

Dr. Albert Raizner, Dr. Michael Raizner, and Dr. Mohamed El-Beheary are excited to announce that our practice, Houston Cardiovascular Associates, will merge with Houston Cardiovascular Associates on November 1, 2024.

Our new offices are similarly located in Houston, near the Texas Medical Center and in Sugar Land. Our in-hospital care will continue at Houston Methodist Hospital in the Texas Medical Center and Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital. Importantly, our new offices expand our services with state-of-the-art equipment and amenities. Our core values will always be, as they began over 40 years ago when Dr. Albert Raizner founded HCA:

Integrity – Compassion – Accountability

Our new address and contact information are:

Your medical records are confidential and remain available at our new locations. We consider it a privilege to serve as your cardiologists and look forward to your continuing with us. However, should you desire to transfer to another physician, you may request a copy of your records by contacting us at our new addresses and phone numbers listed above.

We thank you for your trust and loyalty. As always, we will continue to be here to take care of you. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions or concerns.

Sincerely,

Dr. Albert Raizner,
Dr. Michael Raizner,
Dr. Mohamed El-Beheary