Sat, May 12, 2012 Cardioversion refers to the process of
converting an abnormal heart rhythm back to normal.
Cardioversion usually requires either medication or electricity.
What is cardioversion? An arrhythmia refers to any abnormal
heart rhythm. Arrhythmias are typically divided into slow heart
rhythms (bradycardia) and fast heart rhythms (tachycardia).
Treatment for most forms of symptomatic bradycardia involves
speeding up the heart rate. On the other hand, treatment for
most forms of tachycardia involves slowing the heart rate, or
preferably converting it back to a normal heart rhythm. This
process is known as cardioversion. Cardioversion can be achieved
in many different ways. Most commonly it is done through the use
of medications or by applying an electrical current to the
heart. In children, cardioversion is most commonly used for the
treatment of supraventricular tachycardia (SVT). In SVT, an
electrical circuit is formed between the atria and ventricles.
The circuit typically involves the AV node. A