Cardioversion details
TEE results for the entire cohort showed no thrombus in the left atrium or on the left atrial appendage. Additional echo details are described in Table 2.
The study groups were divided based on where their cardioversion was performed. If cardioversion performed in the ED failed, necessitating hospitalization and re-cardioversion in the cardiology department, these patients were classified as “cardiology department” patients (there were two such patients in the study cohort). Most patients from both cohorts had only one cardioversion attempt. “Success of cardioversion” was defined as sinus rhythm at hospital discharge. The great majority (over 90%) of cardioversions were successful in both groups (95% in the ED group and 91% in the cardiology department group). There were very few post-cardioversion complications. However, shortness of breath (SOB) was 10% more prevalent in those converted on the cardiology ward (p=0.030), although the absolute numbers were relatively low (two patients in the ED group vs. seven in the cardiology group). Neither chest pain nor hypotension showed any difference between the groups. (Table 2)