Direct current cardioversion is the preferred modality for terminating tachyarrhythmias due to its efficacy and lower risk of myocardial damage compared to alternating current.
DC cardioversion may be favored for tachyarrhythmias; leaves open need for modern randomized comparisons.
xternal electrical cardioversion (EEC) was first performed in the 1950s. In 1955, Zoll et al successfully terminated ventricular fib b brillation in a patient with externally applied defibrilb b lation shocks. Kouwenhoven and colleagues discovered that a batterybpowered direct current operated device could be fully portable. 2 Electrical countershocks can be delivered with either alternating current (AC) or direct current (DC) energy. Alternating currents are sinusoib b dal energy waveforms that switch between positive and negative polarity. The energy pulse lasts for approxib b mately 200 ms once discharged. Alternating current defibrillation can cause significant myocardial damage due to the greater energy flux and duration. 3 Urgent or elective DC cardioversions have specific advantages, such as termination of atrial and ventricular tachycardia and recovery of sinus rhythm.
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Sucu et al. (2009) studied this question.
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