Complications in 220 patients with cardiac dysrhythmias treated by phased direct current shock, and indications for electroconversion.

Direct current shock is more effective than alter- nating current in the treatment of ventricular dysrhythmias (Lown et al., 1962) and is more effective than drug therapy in converting supraventricular dysrhythmias to sinus rhythm (McDonald, Resne- kov, and O'Brien, 1964). Although earlier reports stressed the benign nature of the treatment (Lown, 1964; Morris et al., 1964), it has already been shown that it may lead to potentially serious complications (McDonald and Resnekov, 1965; Resnekov and McDonald, 1965). In this paper complications following the use of phased direct current (DC) shock, in the management of 220 consecutive patients with supraventricular dysrhythmias and ventricular tachycardia, are analysed.