Patient education: Cardioversion – Discharge instructions (The Basics)

What are discharge instructions? — 

Discharge instructions are information about how to take care of yourself after getting medical care for a health problem.

What is cardioversion? — 

This is a treatment to fix abnormal heart rhythms.

Everyone has a built-in electrical system in their heart that controls their heartbeat (figure 1). Electrical signals in the heart control which parts of the heart pump and when. Sometimes, these signals become abnormal and cause an abnormal heart rhythm, called an "arrythmia."

Some types of abnormal heart rhythms that might be treated with cardioversion include:

●Atrial flutter

●Atrial fibrillation

●Supraventricular tachycardia

●Ventricular tachycardia

Abnormal heart rhythms can lead to problems like heart failure, stroke, and even death. This is why treatment is important.

Cardioversion can be done in 2 ways:

●Electrical cardioversion – The doctor sends an electric shock through your heart. After the shock, your heart might begin beating normally again.

●Drug cardioversion – You get medicines to try to reset your heart's rhythm. Sometimes, doctors will try this before doing electrical cardioversion.

How do I care for myself at home? — 

Ask the doctor or nurse what you should do when you go home. Make sure you understand exactly what you need to do to care for yourself. Ask questions if there is anything you do not understand.

If you had electrical cardioversion and got "sedative" medicines, you need to avoid certain activities:

●Do not drive or operate heavy or dangerous machinery.

●Do not make any important decisions or sign any important papers.

●Do not drink alcohol of any kind.

Ask your doctor or nurse exactly how long you need to avoid these activities.

If you had electrical cardioversion, you might have skin irritation where the electrodes were attached to your chest. Or you might have a minor burn from the defibrillator pads. Ask your doctor for help if you have either of these problems. They can help treat it.

Take all your medicines as instructed.

What follow-up care do I need? — 

The doctor will want to see you again after cardioversion to check on your progress. Go to these appointments.

When should I call the doctor? — 

Watch for any signs of a stroke or heart failure. These are both rare but serious health problems that can happen after cardioversion.

If you have any signs of a stroke or heart failure, call for an ambulance right away (in the US and Canada, call 9-1-1).

Signs of a stroke include sudden:

●Numbness or weakness of the face, arm, or leg, especially on 1 side of the body

●Confusion, or trouble speaking or understanding

●Trouble seeing in 1 or both eyes

●Trouble walking, dizziness, or loss of balance or coordination

●Severe headache with no known cause

Signs of heart failure include:

●Feeling tired or weak

●Feeling lightheaded or dizzy

●Having trouble breathing – This might cause you to be less active, or to need extra pillows to sleep.

●Racing heartbeat, even while resting

●Swelling in your feet, ankles, and legs or in your belly

More on this topic

Patient education: Cardioversion (The Basics)
Patient education: Overview of heart arrhythmias (The Basics)
Patient education: Atrial flutter (The Basics)
Patient education: Atrial fibrillation (The Basics)
Patient education: Heart failure and atrial fibrillation (The Basics)
Patient education: Supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) (The Basics)
Patient education: Ventricular tachycardia (The Basics)
Patient education: Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome (The Basics)
Patient education: Long QT syndrome (The Basics)

Patient education: Cardioversion (Beyond the Basics)
Patient education: Atrial fibrillation (Beyond the Basics)
Patient education: Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome (Beyond the Basics)