Cardioversion 1975: foremost therapy for tachyarrhythmias.

Extensive clinical experience indicates that cardioversion is the most effective method now available for terminating cardiac tachyarrhythmias. This procedure is not accompanied by depression of myocardial contractility, conductivity, or excitability, a common sequel to the use of antiarrhythmic drugs. Furthermore, the incidence of complications with cardioversion is low. These features of effectiveness, safety, and simplicity permit cardioversion to be used by the noncardiologist physician, who may be less experienced than a cardiologist in recognizing arrrhythmias. Cardioversion has not reduced the need for antiarrhythmic agents; on the contrary, more such drugs are required to maintain normal sinus rhythm. The problem at present is not the terminating a tachyarrhythmia but in preventing its recurrence.