PMID: 7337479Jul 1, 1981Paper

Myocardial damage following cardioversion

Archivos del Instituto de Cardiología de México
J Verdejo ParísA Cuarón

Abstract

In order to ascertain myocardial damage secondary to D.C. cardioversion, we studied 20 patients from the National Institute of Cardiology Ignacio Chávez, in whom an elective electric countershock was applied because of rythm abnormalities. We studied the patients before and after the procedure with E.C.G., enzyme levels (SGOT, LDH, CKMB), and myocardial scintigraphy to detect possible myocardial lesions. Only in two patients the CKMB rose to a significant level. The ECG changes were significant in 40 per cent, and myocardial scintigraphy was positive in a diffuse pattern in 50 per cent of the cases. The interpretation of the three studies as a whole, showed an absolute lack of correlation between them. We conclude that DC countershock is a safe and innocuous procedure, to which no myocardial damage can be attributed, if it is used within the normal limits of clinic.

Related Concepts

Related Feeds

Atrial Fibrillation

Atrial fibrillation is a common arrhythmia that is associated with substantial morbidity and mortality, particularly due to stroke and thromboembolism. Here is the latest research.

Arrhythmia

Arrhythmias are abnormalities in heart rhythms, which can be either too fast or too slow. They can result from abnormalities of the initiation of an impulse or impulse conduction or a combination of both. Here is the latest research on arrhythmias.

Cardiomyopathy

Cardiomyopathy is a disease of the heart muscle, that can lead to muscular or electrical dysfunction of the heart. It is often an irreversible disease that is associated with a poor prognosis. There are different causes and classifications of cardiomyopathies. Here are the latest discoveries pertaining to this disease.