Why the study?
Does synchronized direct current shock safely and effectively convert atrial fibrillation to sinus rhythm?
Does synchronized direct current shock safely and effectively convert atrial fibrillation to sinus rhythm?
Synchronized direct current shock is highlighted as a safe and effective method for converting atrial fibrillation to sinus rhythm.
Supports synchronized DC cardioversion for AF in selected cases; leaves open need for randomized confirmation of safety and efficacy.
demonstrated the safety of direct current shock and its effectiveness in abolish- ing ventricular fibrillation. Soon afterwards the use of this method was extended to the treatment of atrial fibrillation (Lown, Amarasingham, and Neu- man, 1962a). The direct current shock causes complete depolarization of cardiac muscle, allowing the sinus node to take over as pacemaker. The safety of the method depends on careful synchron- ization of the direct current discharge to avoid the vulnerable T period of the cardiac cycle. Several papers (Killip, 1963; Lown et al., 1963; Oram et al., 1963; McDonald, Resnekov, and O'Brien, 1964) reported a high percentage of successful conversions and minimal complications.
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Pál Halmos (1966) studied this question.
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