Cardioversion is a process to restore the hearts normal rhythm by inducing medication or electric shock.

It can be chemically or electrically done. Chemical Cardioversion uses antiarrythmia drugs to fix heartbeat. Depending on the patients condition or symptoms; it can be performed as an outpatient procedure or in a hospital stay. It is injected through an intravenous fluid or taken orally. While the traditional defibrillation focuses only on delivering electrical discharge on the patients heart to restore heart rhythm.

They may sound like almost the same in function to jump start the heart to be normal again, but the question is in which situations should we perform each? So to avoid confusion, let us discuss further and break down each of the procedures and uses of Cardioversion vs. Defibrillation.

Cardioversion vs. Defibrillation procedures.

It can be ordered depending on a variety of conditions. The most common includes benign heart rhythm conditions like atrial flutter or atrial fibrillation. When there is an emergency, it can be used to correct blood pressure, faintness, breathing difficulty, chest pain, and loss of consciousness.

The patient that will undergo Cardioversion should refrain from drinking or eating eight hours before it takes place.
The heart and blood pressure of the patient is constantly monitored during the procedure.

There is also a type of Cardioversion similar to defibrillation; it is called Synchronized electrical Cardioversion, or direct-current DC Cardioversion. It is only performed whenever the chemical Cardioversion fails or is unsuccessful. It is a process in which an electric shock is applied to the chest wall with paddles or electrodes, releasing a mild dose of electrical discharge restoring back the heart to its natural rhythm. This causes all of the heart cells to contract simultaneously. A mild sedative is then given to prevent the patient from experiencing pain from the electric shock. Blood thinners are also induced to prevent blood clotting.

90 % of the time, Cardioversion is successful in restoring the heart back to its normal rhythm. Sometimes, patients may experience repeated attacks of atrial fibrillation so Cardioversion is needed multiple times. A Pacemaker is advisable to control this situation.

After the procedure, the doctor will advise the patient some restrictions for the whole day like riding a motorcycle, operating heavy machinery, and running on a treadmill. Some side effects may occur after the Cardioversion procedure like minor skin irritation and chest discomfort, which can be treated by prescribed ointments.

While during Defibrillation, two paddles or electrodes are placed on the chest of the victim. Electrocardiogram (ECG) monitors are also placed to monitor the hearts activity. Then the defibrillator releases a mild dose of electrical discharge to kick back the heart to its normal rhythm.

To summarize the difference of Cardioversion vs. Defibrillation, in a nutshell — Cardioversion is a form of shock or “chemical treatment” used for atrial fibrillation and is not usually done in an emergency, while Defibrillation is a form of “shock treatment” for ventricular fibrillation mostly done in emergency situations.

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