Cardioversion of atrial fibrillation and atrial flutter revisited: current evidence and practical guidance for a common procedure

Axel Brandes*, Harry J. G. M. Crijns, Michiel Rienstra, Paulus Kirchhof, Erik L. Grove, Kenneth Bruun Pedersen, Isabelle C. Van Gelder

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal(Systematic) Review article peer-review

Abstract

Cardioversion is widely used in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) and atrial flutter when a rhythm control strategy is pursued. We sought to summarize the current evidence on this important area of clinical management of patients with AF including electrical and pharmacological cardioversion, pert-procedural anticoagulation and thromboembolic complications, success rate, and risk factors for recurrence to give practical guidance.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1149-1161
Number of pages13
JournalEP Europace
Volume22
Issue number8
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Aug 2020

Keywords

  • Atrial fibrillation
  • Atrial flutter
  • Electrical cardioversion
  • Pharmacological cardioversion
  • Anticoagulation
  • Thromboembolism
  • VITAMIN-K ANTAGONIST
  • MULTIDETECTOR COMPUTED-TOMOGRAPHY
  • CURRENT ELECTRICAL CARDIOVERSION
  • ANTIARRHYTHMIC-DRUG TREATMENT
  • DIRECT ORAL ANTICOAGULANTS
  • APPENDAGE FILLING DEFECTS
  • TISSUE DOPPLER DYNAMICS
  • MAINTAIN SINUS RHYTHM
  • TRANSESOPHAGEAL ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY
  • EXTERNAL CARDIOVERSION

Cite this