Cardioversion V's Defib

[Michelle123]

This is probably a really silly question, but what is the difference between cardioversion and defibrilation?

[Daytonite, BSN, RN]

(mosby's medical, nursing, & allied health dictionary, 6th edition, published in 2002, page 318)

"cardioversion

synchronized electric shock used to terminate cardiac arrhythmias. unlike defibrillation, which is an unsynchronized shock, cardioversion is timed to avoid the t wave of the cardiac cycle. a conscious patient may require sedation before the procedure.

"

[UM Review RN, ASN, RN]

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-2703551951561857306&q=cardioversion&total=7&start=0&num=10&so=0&type=search&plindex=5&hl=en

This young man is being cardioverted under sedation.

[onyx77]

I was lucky enough to be able to observe a cardioversion in my fourth semester. It was a fasinating and scarey experience. Pt was getting it because he was experiencing PVCs on a regular basis for about 2 weeks prior. The pt's rhythm went into a normal rhythm with just one shock, but his BP dropped SCAREY LOW!!! Niether myself or the other student that was in there had ever seen a BP so low! Cardiologist said that pt got too much anesthetic. I rate that experience right up there with the labor and delivery that I was able to help with on my L&D observation. Truely amazing!