Gransnet forums

Health

What is a cardioversion?

(33 Posts)
ExDancer Sat 08-Jan-22 14:57:48

Is a cardioversion the procedure where your heart is stopped and then restarted again?
Dr Google just says that the heart is shocked into regaining its normal rhythm, but DH's friend has told him his heart will be stopped and that if he can't be shocked 'back to life' he will die.
Understandably he's considering refusing the treatment.
I'm certain his consultant will have explained it to him, but he has a tendency to not really listen on these occasions, and as he adamantly refuses to let me attend consultations with him I can only go on what I read in his referral letters.
He hates anything medical, preferring to ignore ill health on the grounds that it'll just 'go away'. Nine times oit of ten it does go away - but not this time.
He'll be 83 in April.

Kali2 Sat 08-Jan-22 15:02:46

My OH had it done 6 years ago- they had to do the procedure twice in a row- and it did reset his rhythm and it has worked ever since. OH is delighted he had it done- why would your OH refuse. The technique is very clear and refined.

The main issue is whether it 'holds' or not after the procedure. Due to an issue with space at the hospital where he was, it was done on the ward, and not in theatre, with a minor anesthetic.

A life saver.

Kali2 Sat 08-Jan-22 15:03:19

The longer he waits, the least likely it will succeed and last.

Peasblossom Sat 08-Jan-22 15:07:25

They don’t stop your heart.

Google the British Heart Foundation. It’s a very safe common procedure.

Aren’t people awful with their scare stories. I hope he decides to have it done.

Kate1949 Sat 08-Jan-22 15:07:41

My brother in law had this done. All went well but he was only 60.

Kali2 Sat 08-Jan-22 15:14:03

Peasblossom

They don’t stop your heart.

Google the British Heart Foundation. It’s a very safe common procedure.

Aren’t people awful with their scare stories. I hope he decides to have it done.

They do shock it to stop it- that is the whole point to re-set rhythm. But it is very safe.

Peasblossom Sat 08-Jan-22 15:43:15

Sorry, but your heart isn’t stopped. The shock makes all the muscles contract at the same time and that is what resets the rhythm.

Google BHF or BUPA or just put in ‘does your heart stop during cardio version’ if you don’t believe me.

Please don’t confuse the OP with what you think happens.

Visgir1 Sat 08-Jan-22 20:30:18

I've have it done, reverted my AF.
They synchronised your HR rate by sending a DC shock
Not the same strength as a shock to restart your heart, ie post arrest, just enough to get it back into Normal rhythm.
Need Anticoagulant for min 6 weeks first, then you stay on Anticoagulant and Beta blockers for a while.
It was quick easy and walked out about hour later home feeling truck loads better.
Had it done in September, still in normal Rhythm. Just hope it continues, but the sooner it done the best chance of it staying normal.
Really nothing to worry about, sound worse than it is.

Kali2 Sat 08-Jan-22 20:33:46

OH is a doctor and had it done- the heart definitely stops for a very short time during the procedure, this is how it works. And IT WORKS, and it IS VERY SAFE.

Kali2 Sat 08-Jan-22 20:35:25

WELL DONE VISGIRL.

Peasblossom Sat 08-Jan-22 21:08:43

Oh I guess the British Heart Foundation and the British Medical Assiciation have it wrong then ?

And Kali on the Internet knows better.

Aveline Sat 08-Jan-22 21:12:22

DH had it done and it worked for a short while then reverted. He's in various meds now.

Kali2 Sat 08-Jan-22 21:26:33

Peasblossom

Oh I guess the British Heart Foundation and the British Medical Assiciation have it wrong then ?

And Kali on the Internet knows better.

No, not me. The one sitting next to me, A Fellow of the Royal College, from a top London medical school, who has had it done, and has done it himself to many in the past. I trust him to know.

Kali2 Sat 08-Jan-22 21:28:30

Sorry to hear Aveline- OH had it done about 6 years ago and it has 'held' - but he also has to be on medication as well.

Deedaa Sat 08-Jan-22 21:43:33

My son in law has had it done several times over the last few years. Always came back from hospital looking and feeling as if he'd been kicked in the chest by a mule. It never worked for long for him and he's had two ablations as well (when they burn away the part of the heart that is causing the problem) fortunately the last one seems to have worked so far.

Dr. Xand Van Tullekan had to have an ablation after Covid sent him into AF. We saw Chris, his twin, in tears waiting foe his heart beat to resume so yes it is stopped.

Msida Sat 08-Jan-22 21:57:18

Cardioversion is a medical procedure by which an abnormally fast heart rate or other cardiac arrhythmia is converted to a normal rhythm using electricity or drugs

Shandy57 Sat 08-Jan-22 22:09:48

My husband had AF and had this procedure three times, it only worked on the third attempt.

Unfortunately in his case it only lasted for five days.

Peasblossom Sat 08-Jan-22 23:10:03

“On pump” ablation stops the heart. Some ablation procedures do not.

Cardio version does not stop the heart.

Please OP look at medical sites such as British Heart Foundation, British Medical Association, NHS and even BUPA to get accurate information. They will all tell you the heart is not stopped in cardio version.

I think these can be relied upon to be accurate.

Peasblossom Sun 09-Jan-22 10:16:19

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

ExDancer Sun 09-Jan-22 10:30:43

Thank you all for bothering to replynow I'm truly confused.

Peasblossom Sun 09-Jan-22 10:33:29

That’s what I was afraid of. Please do your own research at the sites I’ve suggested. The Internet is full of self appointed experts. I could be one of them?

Kali2 Sun 09-Jan-22 10:37:13

ExDancer

Thank you all for bothering to replynow I'm truly confused.

Don't worry- it is a very safe procedure, and is very effective- but does not always work first time, and sometimes not. But it is a true life saver, and really worth a try. As said, OH has it it done, and has done it himself many times.

ExDancer Sun 09-Jan-22 10:39:43

Sorry - thought I was pressing the 'delete' button but hit 'enter'

I did look on the British heart foundation site before I posted. It doesn't say the heart is stopped, neither does it say the heart is NOT stopped, but once the suggestion is in your mind its a horrifying thought, even though everyone says it's very safe.

He hasn't even got his blood thinning meds from his GP yet, so I guess it'll be at least 6 weeks before it's done at the earliest (if its done at all with the non-urgent cases being postponed now).

Peasblossom Sun 09-Jan-22 10:42:18

The above is from the BUPA website.

Peasblossom Sun 09-Jan-22 13:36:18

Sorry about that. I’ll post it again.