Key result
Electrocardioversion linked to fatal refractory cardiogenic shock in a 71-year-old patient with AFib and HF.
Why the study?
Electrocardioversion is considered safe and effective to terminate AF, but rare complications can occur.
Case Report (n=1)
No
Answers are grounded in this paper and cite their sources.
Electrocardioversion for atrial fibrillation in patients with heart failure can rarely be complicated by sudden ventricular stunning, refractory cardiogenic shock, and death.
BACKGROUND: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is prevalent, especially in patients with heart failure. Their prevalence increases with age and both conditions are interrelated. Electrocardioversion (ECV) is considered a safe and effective procedure and is among one of the recommended therapies to terminate AF back to normal sinus rhythm. Our study highlights one of the rare complications following ECV. A 71-year-old female with a history of atrial fibrillation underwent electrocardioversion and developed sudden onset of ventricular stunning resulting in refractory cardiogenic shock. She was treated with mechanical cardiac support including IABP and Impella. Both provided minimal support then rapid clinical deterioration happened leading to imminent death. CONCLUSION: Patients with atrial fibrillation and heart failure treated with electrocardioversion might develop refractory cardiogenic shock and death as a complication of this procedure.
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Hashem et al. (2023) conducted a case report in Atrial fibrillation and heart failure (n=1). Electrocardioversion was evaluated on Cardiogenic shock and death. A 71-year-old female with atrial fibrillation and heart failure developed refractory cardiogenic shock and died immediately following electrocardioversion.
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