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.