27/10/2025
If you have an irregular heart rhythm such as atrial fibrillation or atrial flutter, your cardiologist may recommend a procedure called a cardioversion. This is a minimally invasive, commonly conducted procedure that helps to restore your heart’s normal rhythm.
🫀 How it works
Cardioversion is performed under intravenous sedation. Once you are unconscious, your cardiologist delivers a controlled electrical shock to your heart through electrodes on your chest. This “resets” your heart rhythm. You will not be aware of or feel the shock.
🫀 What to expect
• The procedure itself usually takes around 30 minutes.
• Including admission, preparation, and recovery time, most day-stay patients are at the clinic for three to five hours.
• You’ll be monitored throughout and after the procedure before being discharged home the same day.
• Please arrange for someone to drive you home, as you should not drive or fly for 24 hours after your procedure.
🫀 Before and after
If you are scheduled for a cardioversion at Eastern Heart Clinic, one of our experienced cardiac nurses will call you before your procedure to confirm your admission time, fasting and medication instructions, and to answer any questions. After discharge, it’s recommended that someone stays with you overnight in case you need assistance.
👉 You can learn more in our full patient explainer here:
https://www.ehc.com.au/cardioversion/