Early or Delayed Cardioversion in Recent-Onset Atrial Fibrillation

Cardioversion of atrial fibrillation of recent onset with flecainide.

Twenty-eight patients with atrial fibrillation of less than 1 month's duration were given a single intravenous bolus of flecainide (2 mg/kg). Nineteen patients (68%) were successfully converted to sinus rhythm. Of the 19 patients with atrial fibrillation of less than 72 hours duration, 18 (95%) were successfully converted. Failure to cardiovert was associated with cardiomegaly on chest X-ray an...

Flecainide versus ibutilide for immediate cardioversion of atrial fibrillation of recent onset.

AIMS This study compared the efficacy and safety of intravenous flecainide and ibutilide for immediate cardioversion of atrial fibrillation (AF). METHODS AND RESULTS We conducted a prospective, randomised trial, including 207 patients with AF of recent onset (< or = 48 h). Flecainide was given over 20 min at a dose of 2 mg/kg body weight (maximum 200 mg), ibutilide was infused at a dose of 1 ...

Prevention of thromboembolism after cardioversion of recent-onset atrial fibrillation: brief is not always safe.

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common human arrhythmia causing a significant public health burden. Restoration of sinus rhythm by cardioversion of the arrhythmia, performed either electrically or pharmacologically, has been a main therapeutic option for the treatment of AF patients during the last decades. After publication of several large randomized studies showing no significant benefi...

Is emergency department cardioversion of recent-onset atrial fibrillation safe and effective?

BACKGROUND Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a very common dysrhythmia presenting to Emergency Departments (EDs). Controversy exists regarding the optimal clinical therapy for these patients, which typically focuses on rhythm rate-control and admission or cardioversion and discharge home. CLINICAL QUESTION Is ED cardioversion of recent-onset atrial fibrillation safe, effective, and does it result i...

Internal atrial cardioversion in atrial fibrillation.