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Cardioversion: Electrical Cardioversion

Cardioversion: Electrical Cardioversion

Electrical cardioversion

For electrical cardioversion, your doctor first gives you a medicine that relaxes you and controls pain. Then your doctor places paddles or patches either on your chest or on your chest and back, depending on your doctor's preference.

The paddles or patches send an electrical current to the heart. The electrical current stops the heart momentarily. When it resumes beating, the heart usually starts in a normal rhythm.

By Healthwise Staff
Primary Medical Reviewer Rakesh K. Pai, MD, FACC - Cardiology, Electrophysiology
Specialist Medical Reviewer John M. Miller, MD, FACC - Cardiology, Electrophysiology
Last Revised December 14, 2012

Last Revised: December 14, 2012

Author: Healthwise Staff

Medical Review: Rakesh K. Pai, MD, FACC - Cardiology, Electrophysiology & John M. Miller, MD, FACC - Cardiology, Electrophysiology

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