CONVERSION OF ATRIAL FIBRILLATION BY DIRECT CURRENT COUNTER SHOCK

Abstract

The adverse effects of atrial fibrillation on the circulation are well known. It reduces cardiac output and stroke volume (Kory and Meneely, 1951; Broch and Muller, 1957), may lead to cardiac dilatation and failure (Phillips and Levine, 1949), and is associated with a high risk of systemic embolization (Sokolow, 1951; Fraser and Turner, 1955).