Japanese heart journal
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Japanese heart journal · Nov 2003
Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical TrialExternal cardioversion in patients with persistent atrial fibrillation: a reappraisal of the effects of electrode pad position and transthoracic impedance on cardioversion success.
The optimal methods to perform external cardioversion of atrial fibrillation (AF) have yet to be conclusively determined. This study was performed to examine the relative efficacy of different pad positions on cardioversion success and the relationship between the transthoracic impedance (TTI) and energy requirement for AF cardioversion. Seventy patients with persistent AF undergoing elective cardioversion were randomly assigned to an electrode pad position situated either over the ventricular apex-right infraclavicular area (AL group, n = 31 ) or over the right lower sternal border-left infrascapular area close to the spine (AP group, n = 39). ⋯ Rather than pad position. TTI is the single factor that significantly affects cardioversion and correlates with energy requirement. The relationship between energy requirement and TTI further allows estimation of energy requirements to achieve a successfil cardioversion.