A cardioversion is a procedure to correct an abnormal heart rhythm by using an electrical impulse to stimulate or shock your heart back into normal rhythm.
Do not eat or drink anything after midnight the night before your procedure. Take your morning medications with sips of water only.
An intravenous catheter (IV) will be started for fluids and medications. You will be given medicine that will put you to sleep temporarily. Large patches will be placed on your chest and you will have a monitor attached to watch your heart rhythm. The doctor will then direct when to shock your heart back into rhythm.
The procedure takes approximately 15 – 30 minutes.
Notify the staff if:
- You feel your heart beating irregularly
- You have red or irritated skin from the patches that are bothersome