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Cardioversion: Electrical Cardioversion

Picture of electrical cardioversion

For electrical cardioversion, your doctor first gives you a sedative. Then your doctor places paddles or patches either on your chest or on your chest and back, depending on your doctor's preference.

The paddles or patches send an electrical current to the heart. The electrical current stops the heart momentarily. When it resumes beating, the heart usually starts in a normal rhythm.

By Healthwise Staff
Primary Medical Reviewer E. Gregory Thompson, MD - Internal Medicine
Specialist Medical Reviewer John M. Miller, MD - Electrophysiology
Last Revised November 2, 2010

Last Revised: November 2, 2010

Author: Healthwise Staff

Medical Review: E. Gregory Thompson, MD - Internal Medicine & John M. Miller, MD - Electrophysiology

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