PERCUTANEOUS CORONARY INTERVENTION (PCI)
CORONARY ARTERY BYPASS GRAFTING
Dr. Richard Mansfield
BSc (Hons) MB ChB MD FRCP FESC
CONSULTANT CARDIOLOGIST
Note: I am happy to answer general questions regarding the content of this website, but I cannot give clinical advice. Such requests will not be answered.
DC Cardioversion involves an electrical shock being delivered to the heart from the chest wall to try and reset the usual electrical activity (sinus rhythm). It is often used to treat atrial fibrillation and atrial flutter. It is carried out under general anaesthetic and is safe. It is carried out as a day case procedure and requires patients to be starved beforehand. Occasionally minor burns (like sunburn) can result but his is unusual.
Before cardioversion can be performed there is a need to be on a blood thinning medication called an anticoagulant to reduce the risk of stroke. The most widely used anticoagulant is warfarin but newer drugs (Direct Oral Anticoagulants) such as Apixaban are also used.
Patient's Guide - Cardioversion
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