FACTORS INFLUENCING PERSISTENCE OF SINUS RHYTHM AFTER DC SHOCK TREATMENT OF ATRIAL FIBRILLATION

Abstract

Abstract. Of 164 patients with atrial fibrillation, 87% were converted to sinus rhythm, but 51 (32%) of them reverted to atrial fibrillation during the next four days. Of the patients with a successful conversion 41 % were still in sinus rhythm after three months, 34% after six months, and 13.4 % after 12 months. Factors which had a favourable influence on the long‐term results were: 1) a less than 2‐year duration of atrial fibrillation preceding the treatment; 2) age of patients less than 50 years; 3) a normal size of heart; and 4) the hypertensive or hyperthyroid etiology of the underlying heart disease. Pretreatment with quinidine before the DC shock was of no value, and the late results were not significantly better in the quinidine‐treated group than in the controls.