Internal cardioversion of persistent atrial fibrillation using rectilinear biphasic waveform.

Internal electrical cardioversion is currently used in patients with persistent atrial fibrillation resistant to external electrical cardioversion. In external cardioversion, biphasic waveforms have shown a greater efficacy than monomorphic waveforms. The present study aimed to test the safety and efficacy of rectilinear biphasic waveform in converting patients with persistent atrial fibrillation to sinus rhythm using internal electrical cardioversion, and to compare it with that of classical monophasic waveform.