AI Article Synopsis

  • The study examines how internal cardioversion impacts QT interval and QT dispersion in patients with chronic atrial fibrillation, which are critical indicators of heart rhythm stability.
  • After delivering shocks for cardioversion, researchers found that QT dispersion significantly increased shortly after the procedure, indicating heightened electrical vulnerability.
  • Caution is advised when administering antiarrhythmic drugs immediately following the successful restoration of sinus rhythm due to this temporary increased risk of arrhythmias.

Article Abstract

Background: The effects of atrial internal cardioversion on QT interval and QT dispersion (parameters associated with increased risk of ventricular tachyarrhythmias) are unknown. We investigated changes in QT interval, QTc and QT dispersion immediately after shock delivery for internal cardioversion in patients with chronic persistent atrial fibrillation.

Method: Twenty-two patients with chronic persistent atrial fibrillation (mean duration, 17+/-23 months) underwent transvenous low-energy internal atrial cardioversion with a step-up protocol of shocks delivered between catheters in the right atrium and coronary sinus. (successful shock, 7.2+/-4.2 J). RR interval, QT interval, QTc interval, QT dispersion, and QTc dispersion were all measured on three consecutive beats (at 75 mm/s on at least 9 of 12 leads) and then averaged both before and after (1) the last unsuccessful shock, and (2) sinus rhythm restoration.

Results: All parameters remained similar in the minute before and after the last unsuccessful shock. At 1 min after the successful shock, abrupt increases in QT dispersion (+43.8% vs. pre-shock; P<0.001 at least significant difference analysis) and QTc dispersion (+30.0%; P<0.05) were observed, followed by a gradual return to pre-shock values at 15 min.

Conclusions: These findings strongly suggest the likely existence of a brief period of increased electrical vulnerability immediately after restoration of sinus rhythm by internal cardioversion. Particular caution should therefore be applied whenever class III antiarrhythmic drugs are administered immediately after successful internal atrial cardioversion.

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Source
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ijcard.2003.05.022DOI Listing

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