Cardioversion: Treatment, Procedure, Cost and Side Effects

Cardioversion is also known as Cardiac Electroversion.

Cardioversion is advised to people who suffer from a problem in having rhythmic heartbeats. This process of treatment deals with the restoration of the normal heartbeat in a human being for people suffering from arrhythmias. The rhythmic heartbeat is brought back to its normal pace by transmitting electric shocks through electrodes that are placed on the chest. These shocks are directly focused on the heart. Cardioversion can fix the pace of heartbeat for a person both with a low or irregular heartbeat and even for patients with fast heartbeats. Arrhythmias often turn severe as it prevents the blood to circulate from the heart to the brain. The treatment is conducted in a hospital but you are allowed to go home on the same day.

The doctor may primarily prescribe you medicine to get the irregular heartbeat on track, however, if medicines do not produce any effect, cardioversion treatment is advised.

The person experiencing the treatment is required to follow some specific rules prior receiving the treatment. The doctor will instruct you not to eat or drink anything 8 hours before the treatment procedure. You may also be prescribed some medicines before undergoing the treatment. You should only sip water needed to swallow the pills.

In case medicines are not working and the doctor suggests you to get cardioversion treatment, you will be asked to sign a bond prior to it. It would include regulations you have to maintain while you are under the treatment. Remember to inform the doctor if you suffer from allergic reaction, asthma, any kidney or diabetes issues, any restriction from medicines and even if you have piercing done win your chest or any part of the abdomen. Also, let the doctor know if you are pregnant.

You might need to undergo a transesophageal echocardiogram (TEE) before receiving this treatment. This is to check the blood clots in the heart that are often dislodged during the cardioversion procedure and result in severe risk. Though the decision rests on the cardiologist.

During the treatment procedure, large patches of electrodes are placed on the chest. These electrodes will remain connected to the cardioversion machine with the help of wires.

The machine would keep a track on the rhythm of the heartbeat throughout the procedure and at the same time will release electric shock to bring back the rhythm at a normal pace. Before the machine releases the electric shocks, the nurse is supposed to enter an intravenous line through your arm. This line is subject to release medicine that would help the patient to sleep so that he need not face the pain caused by electric shocks.

When you are ready with all the preparation, the cardioversion test would take few minutes to finish.

A Person suffering from arrhythmias is eligible for this treatment. However, this treatment is only suggested when medicines show no result.

A person with no problem or complication in having normal rhythmic heartbeat do not need this treatment.

Though this treatment is extremely useful for patients with abnormal heartbeat rates, there are several side effects of the treatment too.

One of the most severe side effects remains the probability of dislodging of the blood clots in the heart. Cardioversion may result in moving the blood clots in the heart to other parts of the body. To avoid such occurrence, a transesophageal echocardiogram is done prior infusing the treatment.

At the same time, some patients undergoing cardioversion treatment may result in abnormal heart rhythm. This occurs rarely and requires immediate medication to get a control over the condition.

Also, a patient may experience skin burns due to electrodes that are placed on the chest of the patient.

Cardioversion is a quick process for restoring heartbeat rhythm. On completion of the treatment procedure, the patient is supposed to follow several post-treatment guidelines in order to maintain a healthy life.

The person should stop or limit consumption of alcohol and caffeine. A minimum amount of salt should be used in order to maintain lower blood pressure. The person should indulge more time in physical activity for a day and quit smoking. He/she should possibly try to limit stress and load and control anger. Nevertheless, the person should have a healthy diet for a healthy weight.

The treatment procedure takes very less amount of time once all preparation is in place.

The cost of the treatment entirely varies in different hospitals.

Cardioversion treatment procedure mostly produces permanent results. However, in case of complications during the treatment, the doctor prescribes immediate medicine to control the condition.