Elective cardioversion of atrial fibrillation is safe without transesophageal echocardiography in patients treated with non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants: Multicenter experience.

Background: Current guidelines recommend electrical cardioversion (ECV) in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) after at least 3 weeks of adequate non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulant (NOAC) treatment without prior transesophageal echocardiography (TEE). However, in clinical practice in some centres, TEE is performed before ECV in patients with AF. The aim of the study was to evaluate prevalence of thromboembolic and hemorrhagic complications in patients with AF treated with NOACs and undergoing ECV without prior TEE.

Factors determining elective cardioversion preceded by transesophageal echocardiography: experiences of 2 cardiology centers.

Introduction: Although guidelines endorse cardioversion after adequate non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulant (NOAC) treatment without prior transesophageal echocardiography (TEE), the majority of patients still undergo this examination.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess factors determining the decision to perform TEE in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) who are eligible for elective cardioversion.

Patients And Methods: In this study, we evaluated the medical records of consecutive patients with AF who were admitted for elective cardioversion after prior NOAC treatment.

Sudden cardiac arrest in takotsubo cardiomyopathy - a case study.

We present a 59-year-old woman who was admitted to hospital after sudden cardiac arrest due to ventricular fibrillation. Finally takotsubo syndrome was diagnosed. In the acute phase of takotsubo syndrome life-threatening ventricular arrhythmias and significant hemodynamic disorders may occur due to strong adrenergic stimulation and myocardial ischemia.