ELECTIVE CARDIOVERSION

Elective Cardioversion

Elective Cardioversion

Introduction

In order for the heart to work effectively, it needs to pump in a controlled and regular rhythm, with coordination between the atria and ventricles. If these cease to work in unison, then the result in the worst case scenario may be death, depending on the type of arrhythmia. Cardioversion is the procedure used to convert an abnormal heart rhythm or arrhythmia to a normal or sinus heart rhythm. There are two types of cardio-version: The first uses pharmacologic agents and the second uses direct current. The aim of this paper is to explore elective Cardioversion and the situation in which a patient is expected to undergo this process and how this process can be improved with the help of proper care plan of nursing.

Arrhythmias

The heart contracts and relaxes in a highly orchestrated fashion or rhythm to efficiently move blood from the venous compartment (deoxygenated blood) to the arterial compartment (oxygenated blood). This is a two-phase process in which the heart fills during the relaxation phase (diastole) and then the heart forcefully empties during the contraction phase (systole). This orchestration is electrochemical in nature and is maintained by a specialized cluster of cells collectively called the senatorial node or natural pacemaker. Disruption of this sequencing is referred to as an arrhythmia. Arrhythmias can range from benign to malignant. Of particular clinical significance are sustained ventricular tachycardia and ventricular fibrillation, the presumed causal culprits in sudden cardiac death. Note that the ventricular portion of the heart is the primary pumping chamber for the brain and general body. There are a number of factors (e.g., drugs, disease, infarction, emotional distress) that can produce abnormal rhythms, many of which can be serious or even life threatening. In severe instances, blood flow may slow sufficiently to cause acute brain failure (syncope). When the heart has been thrown into inefficient sequencing of its contractions, Cardioversion (transthoracic electrical shock) is used to achieve a normal sinus rhythm.

Elective Cardioversion

In the procedure of elective Cardioversion, shocks of electricity are applied to the heart. These shocks of electricity are applied through the wall of the chest. During the rhythm of the heart at a particular time these electric shocks are applied. In order to conduct this process there should be a proper and monitored setting.

Situations in Which a Patient Undergoes the Process of Elective Cardioversion

There are four chambers in the heart. These four chambers are left atrium, the right atrium, the left ventricle and the right ventricle. The rhythm of the heart is called atrial fibrillation or atrial flutter. When the top chambers begin to beat too fast or in irregular pattern or in both ways i.e. fast as well as with irregular pattern. Then in this case electric Cardioversion is performed to bring back the rhythm of the top chambers to the normal mode. First and foremost doctors make an attempt to fix this problem with the aid of medication but when medication do not shows any improvement doctors have to take the decision of performing ...