Cardioverter

Cardioverter

A cardioverteris a medical device used to deliver electrical energy to the heart to restore a normal heart rhythm. It is primarily used in the treatment of cardiac arrhythmias, such as atrial fibrillation, atrial flutter, and ventricular tachycardia. Cardioverters can be external or implanted within the body, and they function by delivering a controlled electrical shock to the heart.

Types of Cardioverters

Cardioverters can be classified into two main types:

External Cardioverters

External cardioverters, also known as external defibrillators, are devices used outside the body. They are typically used in emergency situations to treat life-threatening arrhythmias. The most common type of external cardioverter is the Automated External Defibrillator (AED), which is designed for use by laypersons in public settings.

Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillators (ICDs)

Implantable cardioverter-defibrillators are devices surgically placed inside the body. They continuously monitor the heart's rhythm and automatically deliver a shock if a dangerous arrhythmia is detected. ICDs are used in patients at high risk of sudden cardiac arrest.

Mechanism of Action

Cardioverters work by delivering a therapeutic dose of electrical energy to the heart. This energy depolarizes a critical mass of the heart muscle, terminating the arrhythmia and allowing the heart's natural pacemaker to re-establish a normal rhythm. The process is known as cardioversion.

Indications for Use

Cardioverters are indicated for use in various cardiac arrhythmias, including:

• Atrial Fibrillation: A common arrhythmia characterized by rapid and irregular beating of the atria.
• Atrial Flutter: Similar to atrial fibrillation but with a more organized rhythm.
• Ventricular Tachycardia: A fast heart rhythm originating from the ventricles, which can be life-threatening.
• Ventricular Fibrillation: A chaotic heart rhythm that results in the heart being unable to pump blood effectively, often leading to cardiac arrest.

Procedure

The procedure for using a cardioverter depends on whether it is external or implantable:

• External Cardioversion: Performed in a hospital setting, where electrodes are placed on the patient's chest, and a controlled shock is delivered.
• Implantable Cardioversion: The ICD continuously monitors the heart and delivers a shock automatically when needed.

Risks and Complications

While cardioverters are generally safe, they can have risks and complications, including:

• Skin burns or irritation at the electrode site.
• Discomfort or pain during the shock.
• Rarely, worsening of the arrhythmia.

Also see

• Defibrillation
• Pacemaker
• Cardiac Electrophysiology
• Sudden Cardiac Arrest

Cardiovascular disease A-Z

Most common cardiac diseases

• Cardiac arrhythmia‎
• Cardiogenetic disorders‎
• Cardiomegaly‎
• Cardiomyopathy‎
• Cardiopulmonary resuscitation‎
• Chronic rheumatic heart diseases‎
• Congenital heart defects‎
• Heart neoplasia‎
• Ischemic heart diseases‎
• Pericardial disorders
• Syndromes affecting the heart‎
• Valvular heart disease‎

A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z

A

• Accelerated idioventricular rhythm
• Acute decompensated heart failure
• Arteriosclerotic heart disease
• Athletic heart syndrome
• Atrial flutter
• Atrioventricular fistula
• Cardiovascular disease in Australia
• Autoimmune heart disease

B

• Brown atrophy of the heart

C

• Ebb Cade
• Cardiac allograft vasculopathy
• Cardiac amyloidosis
• Cardiac asthma
• Cardiac tamponade
• Cardiogenic shock
• Cardiogeriatrics
• Cardiorenal syndrome
• Cardiotoxicity
• Carditis
• Coronary artery aneurysm
• Coronary artery anomaly
• Coronary artery disease
• Spontaneous coronary artery dissection
• Coronary artery ectasia
• Coronary occlusion
• Coronary steal
• Coronary thrombosis
• Coronary vasospasm
• Cœur en sabot
• Coxsackievirus-induced cardiomyopathy

D

• Duke Treadmill Score
• Duroziez's disease

E

• Eisenmenger's syndrome
• Embryocardia
• Endocardial fibroelastosis
• Eosinophilic myocarditis

H

• Heart attack
• Heart failure
• Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction
• Heart to Heart (1949 film)
• High-output heart failure
• Hyperdynamic precordium

A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z

I

• Idiopathic giant-cell myocarditis
• Interventricular dyssynchrony
• Intraventricular dyssynchrony
• Isolated atrial amyloidosis

K

• Keshan disease

L

• Loeffler endocarditis

M

• Mydicar
• Myocardial bridge
• Myocardial disarray
• Myocardial rupture
• Myocardial scarring
• Myocardial stunning
• Myocarditis

N

• Nonbacterial thrombotic endocarditis

O

• OLR1
• Ostial disease

P

• Papillary fibroelastoma
• Pathophysiology of heart failure
• Postpericardiotomy syndrome
• Pulmonary vein stenosis

R

• Right axis deviation
• Roemheld syndrome

S

• Saturated fat and cardiovascular disease
• SCAR-Fc
• Shone's syndrome
• Strain pattern
• Subacute bacterial endocarditis
• Sudden cardiac death of athletes

A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z

T

• Traumatic cardiac arrest

V

• Ventricular aneurysm
• Vibroacoustic disease
• Viral cardiomyopathy

W

• Waon therapy