Electrical cardioversion is an electrical shock delivered to the heart to convert the heart from atrial fibrillation back to a normal sinus rhythm. This is accomplished by providing a patient with a small amount of sedation and then delivering an electrical shock through special pads placed on the skin of the chest wall. Cardioversion can be successful in converting patients back to a normal rhythm if they have not been in AF for a long period of time however, the success decreases the longer a patient remains in AF. Cardioversion is a temporary solution and is not a cure for atrial fibrillation. 3
3 Boriani, G, Diemberger, M, Biffi, G, et al. Electrical cardioversion for persistent atrial fibrillation or atrial flutter in clinical practice: predictors of long-term outcome. International Journal of Clinical Practice 2007; 61: 748-756.