Selection of participants
Databases of the hospital and cardiology department were searched for
patients from January 1, 2010, through Dec 31, 2018, who were diagnosed
with AF in the ED and then underwent a TEE. The patients’ files were
then searched to establish the duration of the AF and whether the
patient underwent subsequent cardioversion after negative TEE results
during their hospitalization. Patients included in the study were those
≥ 18 years of age who presented to the ED with AF > 48
hours’ duration and underwent TEE, who had subsequent synchronized
electrical cardioversion performed either in the ED or in the cardiology
department.
Excluded from the study were those who were: admitted directly to the
cardiology ward for cardioversion, hemodynamically unstable, had a clot
present on the atrium, with AF > 48 hours who underwent
pharmacological cardioversion, pregnant, or less than 18 years old.