Electric Shock for Irregular Heart Rhythms

QUESTION: I have been medicated for an abnormal heart beat for several months
without too much success. My new doctor is advising that an electric shock be
used to correct the beat. It is a frightening thought. May I have your
thoughts on this procedure?
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ANSWER: Our heart beat is regulated by a normal pattern of electrical
activity. There are situations, however, that may alter the regularity and
rhythm of the electrical flow, causing the heart beat to become irregular.
Since the function of the heart, to pump blood to the body, depends upon all
of the heart's chambers contracting in a precise sequence, any abnormality or
alteration in the rhythm reduces the amount of blood that reaches the body's
vital organs. The procedure by which a controlled amount of direct current is
used to restore a normal (or sinus) to the heart is called "Cardioversion".
Although not all irregular rhythms (arrhythmias) may be treated in this
manner, your physician has decided that this treatment is appropriate in your
case. He has used the length of time you have suffered with this abnormality,
the type of arrhythmia, and the effects of various medications you have
already tried as important factors in making this decision. In preparation
for the actual procedure he may prescribe new medications to help your heart
switch back to a normal beat, as well as medication that lowers the ability of
the blood to coagulate, thus preventing possible clot formation. The
procedure usually takes place in a hospital, where you can be closely watched
and where your heart beat can be monitored for several hours after it has been
performed. You will be given an intravenous medication to relax and sedate
you before the actual cardioversion takes place. In most cases, the patient
returns home the same day, and returns to the physician's office for follow up
care. Cardioversion is an accepted, frequently performed technique to correct
your condition, and is considered to be quite safe. I am sure that you will
receive more detailed information from your physician about your personal
condition when you indicate that you are prepared to proceed. Let me know
how you make out, and good luck.