Direct Current Countershock: Long Term Follow-up

Sixty-six patients were cardioverted 82 times for various arrhythmias. Eigthy-three per cent were successfully converted to normal sinus rhythm. Those with acute arrhythmias who were in unstable situations (postoperative and acute myocardial infarctions), and those with long-standing arrhythmias associated with severe heart disease were less likely to be converted. Complications of the procedure were minimal except for two cerebral emboli which left no significant impairment. Forty-seven per cent of patients were able to maintain a sinus mechanism during the period of follow-up (3 to 26 months). With two exceptions, those who reverted to the previous arrhythmia did so within three months. Rheumatic heart disease (64 per cent) and hypertensive cardiovascular disease (56 per cent) were less likely to maintain a normal mechanism than those with coronary artery disease (38 per cent).