Chemical Cardioversion

GENERAL INFORMATION:

What is a chemical cardioversion? Chemical cardioversion (KAHR-dee-oh-ver-zhun) is when caregivers give you medicine to make your heart beat in a more normal rhythm. This may also be called pharmacologic (fahr-mah-koh-LODG-ik) cardioversion. Cardioversion may be needed if you have a cardiac arrhythmia (ah-RITH-mee-ah). An arrhythmia is when your heart does not have a normal beat. For example, your heart may be beating too fast, or beating in an irregular rhythm. You may need a cardioversion if your heart rhythm is making you sick or is dangerous.

What will happen to me during a chemical cardioversion?

• About the procedure: Caregivers will watch your heart, breathing, and blood pressure very closely during a chemical cardioversion. Caregivers will place sticky patches on your chest to hook you up to a heart monitor. A heart monitor is a device that allows caregivers to watch your heart rhythm on a TV-like screen. You may have one or more IVs placed in your arm. An IV is a tube placed in your vein for giving medicine or liquids. This tube is capped or connected to tubing and liquid. You may be given oxygen through a mask or through small plastic prongs that fit just inside your nose. Some IV chemical cardioversion medicines are given quickly, while others are given slowly over time. You may also need blood thinners or other medicines before and during the procedure. You may need a chemical cardioversion more than once.
  
  
• When the medicine is given:
  
  
  • You may feel warm or flushed when the chemical cardioversion medicine is put into your IV. You may get a headache or feel lightheaded or dizzy. You may have pain, tightness, or pressure in your chest, neck, back, shoulders, arms, or jaw. You may feel nauseated (sick to your stomach) or short of breath. You may feel upset or scared. These symptoms are normal, and usually last for just a few seconds. If your caregiver tells you to cough during the procedure, do so right away.
    
    
  • You may need more than one dose of medicine before your heart rhythm gets better. If the chemical cardioversion medicine does not work, caregivers may suggest that you have an electrical cardioversion. This is where electric pads or paddles are used to give your heart an electric shock. This shock may "reset" the heart and return it to a normal beat. Medicine is usually given first to help you relax before this procedure. Ask your caregiver for more information about electrical cardioversion if you are told that you need one.
  
  
• After the chemical cardioversion: You may need to stay in the hospital, or caregivers may say that you can go home. You may need to take medicines so that your heart stays in a good rhythm. Ask your caregiver for more information about the medicines you need to take at home.

Risks:

• If your heart rhythm is not treated, your body may not get the oxygen it needs to work well. Some heart rhythms that are left untreated can increase your chance of heart failure or a heart attack. Medicines that are used during a chemical cardioversion may cause other kinds of heart or blood pressure problems. Even with cardioversion, your heart may not return to or stay in a normal, regular beat.
  
  
• With some arrhythmias, blood clots can form in the heart. When your heartbeat goes back to normal, these clots may leave your heart and travel through your blood. If a clot travels to the brain it can cause a stroke. If a clot travels to the heart it can cause a heart attack. You may be given a blood thinner to keep this from happening. The sooner your heart rhythm problem is treated, the better your chance of avoiding blood clot problems.

Support: You may feel scared, confused, or anxious because of your heart rhythm problems. Call or write the following organizations for more information.

• American Heart Association National Center
  7272 Greenville Avenue
  Dallas, TX 75231-4596
  Phone: 1-800-242-8721
  Web Address: http://www.americanheart.org
  

• American College of Cardiology
  9111 Old Georgetown Road
  Bethesda, MD 20814
  Phone: 1-301-897
  Phone: 1-800-253-4636
  Web Address: http://www.acc.org/
  

• National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute
  Health Information Center
  P.O. Box 30105
  Bethesda, MD 20824-0105
  Phone: 1-301-592-8573
  Web Address: http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/infoctr/index.htm
  

CARE AGREEMENT:

You have the right to help plan your care. To help with this plan, you must learn about your health condition and how it may be treated. You can then discuss treatment options with your caregivers. Work with them to decide what care may be used to treat you. You always have the right to refuse treatment.

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