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Electrical Cardioversion for Atrial Fibrillation
The success of electrical cardioversion depends on how long you have had atrial fibrillation and what is causing it. Cardioversion is less successful if you have had atrial fibrillation for longer than 1 year.
After this treatment, about 9 out of 10 people get back a normal heart rhythm right away. But for many people, atrial fibrillation returns. About 3 to 5 out of 10 people still have a normal heart rhythm 1 year after cardioversion.1 Normal rhythm may last less than a day or for weeks or months. It depends on your other health problems.
Staying in a normal rhythm is more likely when the cause of your rhythm problem is not heart disease. But for most people, atrial fibrillation is caused by heart disease and is very likely to return.
If your atrial fibrillation returns, you may be able to have cardioversion again. But if the problem comes back quickly (within a week or so), having the treatment yet again is less likely to help you.
If you take antiarrhythmic medicines too, they can help you stay in a normal rhythm longer.
| By: | Healthwise Staff | Last Revised: November 2, 2010 |
| Medical Review: | E. Gregory Thompson, MD - Internal Medicine John M. Miller, MD - Electrophysiology | |
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