What are three differences between defibrillation and cardioversion?

Defibrillation – is the treatment for immediately life-threatening arrhythmias with which the patient does not have a pulse, ie ventricular fibrillation (VF) or pulseless ventricular tachycardia (VT). Cardioversion – is any process that aims to convert an arrhythmia back to sinus rhythm.

What is the difference between defibrillation and cardioversion?

There is an important distinction between defibrillation and cardioversion: Defibrillation — Defibrillation is the asynchronous delivery of energy, such as the shock is delivered randomly during the cardiac cycle. Cardioversion — Cardioversion is the delivery of energy that is synchronized to the QRS complex.

Is unsynchronized cardioversion the same as defibrillation?

Unsynchronized cardioversion or defibrillation is the delivery of a high-energy shock as soon as the button is pushed on defibrillator. This means it can be delivered anywhere in the cardiac cycle. By contrast, synchronized cardioversion (see Chap.

What are the contraindications of cardioversion?

Cardioversion is contraindicated for any arrhythmia that is known to be incessant, as these rhythms recur immediately or soon after. Contraindications also include known digitalis toxicity–associated tachycardia, sinus tachycardia caused by various clinical conditions, and multifocal atrial tachycardia.

When should you not do cardioversion?

Your healthcare provider may not want you to have cardioversion if you have minor symptoms. It also may not be recommended if you are elderly, if you have had AFib a long time, or if you have other major medical problems. Other treatments might be better for you, like heart rate control with medicines.

Can cardioversion cause heart damage?

It might not work: Cardioversion doesn’t always fix a fast or irregular heartbeat. You may need medicine or a pacemaker to control things. It might make things worse: It’s unlikely, but there’s a small chance that cardioversion could damage your heart or lead to more arrhythmias.

What percentage of Cardioversions are successful?

The success rate of cardioversion with atrial fibrillation is generally better than 90 percent. Chances of success are lower when the atrial fibrillation has been present for more than several months or when the left atrium is very enlarged. In general, there are two ways that a cardioversion procedure for AF can fail.

When to use a pulseless cardioversion or defibrillation?

Defibrillation or unsynchronized cardioversion is indicated in any patient with pulseless VT/VF or unstable polymorphic VT where synchronized cardioversion is not possible. These are fatal arrhythmias that require prompt recognition and early correction by administration of electrical shock.

Do you need to be an anaesthetist to perform cardioversion?

Anaesthetists may also need to perform cardioversion themselves in theatre or Critical Care settings. An understanding of both the theoretical and practical aspects of this procedure are essential to perform cardioversion safely and hence form the basis of this review.

How does external direct current ( DC ) cardioversion work?

External direct current (DC) cardioversion refers to the application of a synchronized electrical shock across a patient’s chest using a defibrillator. The aim being to convert abnormal tachyarrhythmias back into sinus rhythm.

How much energy is needed for a defibrillation shock?

Delivering an initial 120 J (200 J monophasic) defibrillation shock is usually sufficient to terminate VF or pulseless VT. If unsuccessful, energy can be escalated to 200 J (360 J monophasic) for subsequent shocks.