Pharmacological Cardioversion after Pre-Treatment with Antiarrythmic Drugs Prior to Electrical Cardioversion in Persistent Atrial Fibrillation: Impact on Maintenance of Sinus Rhythm.

ABSTRACT: Antiarrhythmic drugs (AADs) are frequently initiated in patients with persistent atrial fibrillation (AF) prior to electrical cardioversion (ECV), achieving pharmacological cardioversion (PCV) in some cases. Little is known about the mode of cardioversion and the effect of the type of AAD used in the maintenance of sinus rhythm (SR). From three national surveys of patients with persistent AF referred for ECV, we selected those who were pre-treated with AADs (amiodarone or group Ic AADs). We analyzed the effect of the type of cardioversion (pharmacological vs. electrical) and the AAD used in the maintenance of SR at three months. Among the 665 patients selected, 151 had a successful PCV prior to the planned ECV. In the remaining 514 patients, 460 had a successful ECV. A successful PCV was r

SUBMITTER: El Amrani A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7958960 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature