13th International Congress
THE "NEW FRONTIERS"
OF ARRHYTHMIAS 1998

January 24-31, 1998
Marilleva, Trento, Italy

RT-137

External electrical cardioversion: the first choice procedure not only in chronic atrial fibrillation

G. Molon, G. Canali, P. Girardi, F. Castagna, G.L. Ferri, F. Stefanini*, G.C. Salazzari.
Department of Cardiology, *Department of Emergency, "S. Cuore" Hospital, Negrar, Italy

Introduction

Atrial fibrillation is the most common sustained arrhythmia we are asked to threat; it is the cause of several symptoms (palpitations, dizziness, fatigue) sometime clinically remarkable¹ (dyspnea, hearth failure, angina) and increases risk of thromboembolic events^1,2 and mortality^3-5.

Restoring synus rhythm as soon as possible is the best therapeuthic option in most cases. From more than 30 years external electrical cardioversion is used to convert atrial fibrillation⁶. We retrospectively evaluated effectiveness and safety of this procedure in our Department.