Biomaterial Database

[Current aspects of electrical cardioversion in patients with persistent atrial fibrillation]. 2004

Frank Mickley, and Steffen Löscher, and Andreas Hartmann

Klinik für Innere Medizin, Städtisches Klinikum "St.Georg", Leipzig, Germany. frank.mickley@sanktgeorg.de

BACKGROUND Results of recent studies suggest new aspects in the concept of the management of patients with atrial fibrillation. Current trials comparing rhythm control by cardioversion followed by antiarrhythmic drug therapy with heart rate control only showed that rhythm control was not superior to rate control. However, some subgroups of patients with frequent or severe symptoms and younger patients with structurally normal hearts may benefit from cardioversion. In patients with persistent atrial fibrillation, sinus rhythm can be restored in approximately 90% by direct current transthoracic cardioversion. Transthoracic cardioversion is effective and safe, if anticoagulation is used. Attempts have been made to improve the success rate by new techniques. However, definition of subgroups and stabilization of sinus rhythm are ongoing issues of debate.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D012008	Recurrence	The return of a sign, symptom, or disease after a remission.	Recrudescence,Relapse,Recrudescences,Recurrences,Relapses
D002986	Clinical Trials as Topic	Works about pre-planned studies of the safety, efficacy, or optimum dosage schedule (if appropriate) of one or more diagnostic, therapeutic, or prophylactic drugs, devices, or techniques selected according to predetermined criteria of eligibility and observed for predefined evidence of favorable and unfavorable effects. This concept includes clinical trials conducted both in the U.S. and in other countries.	Clinical Trial as Topic
D004554	Electric Countershock	An electrical current applied to the HEART to terminate a CARDIAC ARRHYTHMIA.	Cardiac Electroversion,Cardioversion,Defibrillation, Electric,Electroversion, Cardiac,Electrical Cardioversion,Electroversion Therapy,Therapy, Electroversion,Cardiac Electroversions,Cardioversion, Electrical,Cardioversions,Cardioversions, Electrical,Countershock, Electric,Countershocks, Electric,Defibrillations, Electric,Electric Countershocks,Electric Defibrillation,Electric Defibrillations,Electrical Cardioversions,Electroversion Therapies,Electroversions, Cardiac,Therapies, Electroversion
D004562	Electrocardiography	Recording of the moment-to-moment electromotive forces of the HEART as projected onto various sites on the body's surface, delineated as a scalar function of time. The recording is monitored by a tracing on slow moving chart paper or by observing it on a cardioscope, which is a CATHODE RAY TUBE DISPLAY.	12-Lead ECG,12-Lead EKG,12-Lead Electrocardiography,Cardiography,ECG,EKG,Electrocardiogram,Electrocardiograph,12 Lead ECG,12 Lead EKG,12 Lead Electrocardiography,12-Lead ECGs,12-Lead EKGs,12-Lead Electrocardiographies,Cardiographies,ECG, 12-Lead,EKG, 12-Lead,Electrocardiograms,Electrocardiographies, 12-Lead,Electrocardiographs,Electrocardiography, 12-Lead
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000889	Anti-Arrhythmia Agents	Agents used for the treatment or prevention of cardiac arrhythmias. They may affect the polarization-repolarization phase of the action potential, its excitability or refractoriness, or impulse conduction or membrane responsiveness within cardiac fibers. Anti-arrhythmia agents are often classed into four main groups according to their mechanism of action: sodium channel blockade, beta-adrenergic blockade, repolarization prolongation, or calcium channel blockade.	Anti-Arrhythmia Agent,Anti-Arrhythmia Drug,Anti-Arrhythmic,Antiarrhythmia Agent,Antiarrhythmia Drug,Antiarrhythmic Drug,Antifibrillatory Agent,Antifibrillatory Agents,Cardiac Depressant,Cardiac Depressants,Myocardial Depressant,Myocardial Depressants,Anti-Arrhythmia Drugs,Anti-Arrhythmics,Antiarrhythmia Agents,Antiarrhythmia Drugs,Antiarrhythmic Drugs,Agent, Anti-Arrhythmia,Agent, Antiarrhythmia,Agent, Antifibrillatory,Agents, Anti-Arrhythmia,Agents, Antiarrhythmia,Agents, Antifibrillatory,Anti Arrhythmia Agent,Anti Arrhythmia Agents,Anti Arrhythmia Drug,Anti Arrhythmia Drugs,Anti Arrhythmic,Anti Arrhythmics,Depressant, Cardiac,Depressant, Myocardial,Depressants, Cardiac,Depressants, Myocardial,Drug, Anti-Arrhythmia,Drug, Antiarrhythmia,Drug, Antiarrhythmic,Drugs, Anti-Arrhythmia,Drugs, Antiarrhythmia,Drugs, Antiarrhythmic
D000925	Anticoagulants	Agents that prevent BLOOD CLOTTING.	Anticoagulant Agent,Anticoagulant Drug,Anticoagulant,Anticoagulant Agents,Anticoagulant Drugs,Anticoagulation Agents,Indirect Thrombin Inhibitors,Agent, Anticoagulant,Agents, Anticoagulant,Agents, Anticoagulation,Drug, Anticoagulant,Drugs, Anticoagulant,Inhibitors, Indirect Thrombin,Thrombin Inhibitors, Indirect
D001281	Atrial Fibrillation	Abnormal cardiac rhythm that is characterized by rapid, uncoordinated firing of electrical impulses in the upper chambers of the heart (HEART ATRIA). In such case, blood cannot be effectively pumped into the lower chambers of the heart (HEART VENTRICLES). It is caused by abnormal impulse generation.	Auricular Fibrillation,Familial Atrial Fibrillation,Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation,Persistent Atrial Fibrillation,Atrial Fibrillation, Familial,Atrial Fibrillation, Paroxysmal,Atrial Fibrillation, Persistent,Atrial Fibrillations,Atrial Fibrillations, Familial,Atrial Fibrillations, Paroxysmal,Atrial Fibrillations, Persistent,Auricular Fibrillations,Familial Atrial Fibrillations,Fibrillation, Atrial,Fibrillation, Auricular,Fibrillation, Familial Atrial,Fibrillation, Paroxysmal Atrial,Fibrillation, Persistent Atrial,Fibrillations, Atrial,Fibrillations, Auricular,Fibrillations, Familial Atrial,Fibrillations, Paroxysmal Atrial,Fibrillations, Persistent Atrial,Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillations,Persistent Atrial Fibrillations
D017063	Outcome Assessment, Health Care	Research aimed at assessing the quality and effectiveness of health care as measured by the attainment of a specified end result or outcome. Measures include parameters such as improved health, lowered morbidity or mortality, and improvement of abnormal states (such as elevated blood pressure).	Assessment, Outcome,Outcome Assessment,Outcome Assessment (Health Care),Outcomes Research,Assessment, Outcomes,Outcome Measures,Outcome Studies,Outcomes Assessment,Assessment, Outcome (Health Care),Assessments, Outcome,Assessments, Outcome (Health Care),Assessments, Outcomes,Measure, Outcome,Measures, Outcome,Outcome Assessments,Outcome Assessments (Health Care),Outcome Measure,Outcome Study,Outcomes Assessments,Research, Outcomes,Studies, Outcome,Study, Outcome