Does direct current countershock technique result in long-term maintenance of sinus rhythm in patients with atrial fibrillation?
Long-term maintenance of sinus rhythm following direct current cardioversion for atrial fibrillation is poor, with only 22% of successfully reverted patients remaining in sinus rhythm at one year.
Abstract During a 4‐year period (August 1963 to September 1967) 181 patients with atrial fibrillation were treated with direct current countershock technique. The patients have been followed during 5 to 52 months. The immediate and the long‐term results are reported. The long‐term results are disappointing; only 22% of those reverted remain in sinus rhythm after one year. Factors which might influence the result are studied. Finally, indications and contraindications for conversion of atrial fibrillation are discussed.
Åberg et al. (Fri,) studied this question.