Tips For Treating And Preventing Atrial Flutter

Electrical Cardioversion

Electrical cardioversion is one of the most effective ways to restore normal heart rhythm in patients experiencing an active episode of atrial flutter that has not spontaneously resolved. It is a surgical procedure that can be done at an outpatient facility, and it may also be performed in hospitals for emergency cases. Patients receive strong sedatives through an intravenous line during the procedure, and they do not feel any pain. While patients are sedated, doctors place special pads on the patient's upper chest and back. The pads deliver an electrical shock to the heart, restoring it to a normal rhythm. Following the procedure, patients will often need to start taking special medications to help keep their heart in the normal rhythm. Electrical cardioversion is successful for at least seventy-five percent of patients with atrial flutter.

Keep reading for more on treating atrial flutter.