Definition: Cardioversion is a type of medical procedure used to stop rapid cardiac arrhythmias. Most often, cardioversion is performed using an electrical shock. In some cases it can be performed with drugs.
Electrical cardioversion is performed (usually after anesthesia is administered) by delivering a shock to the chest area through special paddles. The shock stops the abnormal rhythm and allows the normal heart rhythm to return.
Chemical cardioversion is performed by administering a rapidly-acting drug intravenously to stop the abnormal rhythm. For instance, intravenous adenosine often terminates many kinds of supraventricular tachycardia. And intravenous ibutilide (Corvert) can stop episodes of atrial fibrillation with a success rate of roughly 50%.
