Background: Transthoracic cardioversion fails to restore sinus rhythm in 6%to 33%of patients with atrial fibrillation. This study sought to determine the relative efficacy of biphasic waveforms compared with monophasic waveforms in the treatment of atrial arrhythmias. Methods: A total of 912 patients underwent 1022 transthoracic cardioversions between May 2000 and December 2001. A monophasic damped sine waveform was used in the first 304 cases, and a rectilinear biphasic defibrillator was used in the next 718 cases. Results: Use of a biphasic waveform was associated with 94%success in conversion to sinus rhythm compared with 84%with a monophasic waveform(P< .001). The cumulative energy required to restore sinus rhythm was lower with biphasic shocks in both atrial fibrillation and atrial flutter groups(554±413 J for monophasic vs 199±216 J for biphasic shocks in the atrial fibrillation group, P< .001; 251±302 J vs 108±184 J, respectively, in the atrial flutter group, P< .001). In a multivariate analysis, use of a biphasic shock was associated with a 3.9-fold increase in success of cardioversion. Conclusion: When used to cardiovert atrial arrhythmias, the rectilinear biphasic waveform was associated with higher success rates and lower cumulative energies than the monophasic damped sine waveform.
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