Atrial fibrillation and electrical cardioversion in the outpatient cardiology department
Authors:
D. Nováková; F. Toušek; A. Bulava; M. Jelínek; M. Vácha
Authors‘ workplace:
Kardiocentrum – kardiologie, Nemocnice České Budějovice, a. s., Primář: MUDr. František Toušek, FESC.
Published in:
Prakt. Lék. 2010; 90(7): 433-435
Category:
Therapy
Overview
The most common arrhythmia is atrial fibrillation. In the outpatient clinic we have to deal with and treat patients attending with this diagnosis as best we can on a routine daily basis. Our procedure and method of treatment depends mainly on the symptoms and time of onset and duration of atrial fibrillation. Patients with symptoms of heart failure and coronary insufficiency are admitted to the coronary unit, whilst the remaining patients with less severe symptoms can be treated in Day Care Unit. In both cases, we have to make a decision if the method of treatment is to control the rhythm (i.e. pharmacologically or electrical cardioversion) or control the heart rate. In a group of elderly and less symptomatic patients both strategies have equal outcomes according to the latest studies. Synchronized electrical cardioversion offers a reliable, effective and safe control and treatment of rhythm; it is still the treatment of choice despite the recent boom in radiofrequency ablations. The article presents a sample of patients treated with electrical cardioversion in the outpatient clinic over the course of one calendar year.
Key words:
atrial fibrillation- electrical cardioversion.
Sources
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Labels
General practitioner for children and adolescents General practitioner for adultsArticle was published in
General Practitioner
2010 Issue 7
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