Abstract
Plain Language SummaryElectric shock treatment is safe and well tolerated in the most common form of heart arrhythmia. The most common form of heart arrhythmia in humans is called AF. This affects up to 1/3 of the general population in their lifetime. Many people with this condition develop symptoms such as breathlessness and chest pain. Even worse, this arrhythmia increases the risk of developing stroke dramatically. Common treatments include medicines that prevents the blood from clotting and thereby forming strokes and small, timed electric impulses to restore a regular rhythm. However, the transition from arrhythmia to a regular heart rhythm increases the risk for stroke as well, albeit only for a short time. Moreover, not all small strokes are necessarily immediately symptomatic. In this work, researchers used advanced imaging diagnostic to find out how often this may happen. They found out, that most people really felt better, though 1/3 of the patients may develop a relapse of their arrhythmia. Small strokes after the procedure were not a regular finding. However they may still develop, as seen in one patient in this study despite appropriate medicine to prevent blood clots.
Published Version
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