Discharge Instructions for Cardioversion

You just underwent a procedure called cardioversion. Your healthcare provider used a controlled electric shock or a medicine to briefly stop all electrical activity in your heart. This helped restore your heart’s normal rhythm.

Here are some instructions to follow while you recover.

Home care

• As cardioversion typically requires sedation, you will need to stay in the hospital for at least 2 hours after the procedure is complete.
• You should not leave the hospital without a responsible adult accompanying you.
• You will not be able to drive yourself home and will need to wait at least 24 hours before driving a car or operating heavy machinery after receiving sedating medicines.
• Do not be alarmed if the skin on your chest is irritated or feels like it is sunburned. Your healthcare provider may prescribe a soothing lotion to relieve this discomfort. These minor symptoms will go away in a few days.
• Ask your healthcare provider about medicines to keep your heart rhythm steady.
• If you were prescribed medicine, take it as instructed by your healthcare provider. Do not skip doses or take double doses.
• After a cardioversion you will be required to take blood thinners (anticoagulants) for at least 4 weeks to prevent a delayed risk of stroke when treating atrial fibrillation or atrial flutter.
• Be sure you discuss which medicine you are taking to prevent stroke.
• Ask when you need to have your medicine levels checked and whether you may be able to stop taking it in the future or whether it is recommended that you take it for life. Some of these blood-thinning medicines may need to have the dose adjusted occasionally, and may interact with other medicines or foods. Your healthcare team will give you full instructions on what to watch out for.
• Report bleeding or symptoms of stroke immediately to your healthcare team and seek emergency medical attention.
• Learn to take your own pulse. Keep a record of your results. Ask your healthcare provider when you should seek emergency medical attention. He or she will explain to you what heart rate range is good for you. 
• A cardioversion procedure may need to be repeated if the abnormal heart rhythm returns. After the procedure, your healthcare provider will tell you if the treatment worked or if you will need further treatments or medication.

Follow-up care

Make a follow-up appointment with your healthcare provider as instructed.

Call 911 The following are signs and symptoms that you may be having a stroke: Sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm or leg, especially on one side of the body. Sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding Sudden trouble seeing or blurred vision in one or both eyes Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination Sudden severe headache with no known cause   You should never wait more than five minutes to call 9-1-1 if you experience even one of the signs above. Remember, you could be having a stroke even if you’re not experiencing all of the symptoms. Try to remember the time that you first noticed any of these symptoms. The 911 operator, ambulance driver and the ER nurses and doctors at the hospital will need to know when the first symptoms started. When to call your healthcare provider Call your healthcare provider right away if you: ·       Feel faint, dizzy, or lightheaded ·       Have chest pain with increased activity ·       Have irregular heartbeat or fast pulse ·       Have bleeding issues from blood-thinning medicines