Preview

Messenger of ANESTHESIOLOGY AND RESUSCITATION

Advanced search

Methods of sinus rhythm restoration in patients with persistent and long-standing persistent atrial fibrillation

https://doi.org/10.24884/2078-5658-2025-22-3-100-107

Abstract

The objective was to analyze modern approaches to the use of electrical and pharmacological cardioversion in patients with persistent atrial fibrillation (AF).

Materials and methods. A non-systematic literature review was conducted. Russian publications were searched in the eLibrary database, and international publications were sourced from PubMed and Google Scholar.

Results. Cardioversion in patients with persistent AF employs either electrical cardioversion (ECV) or pharmacological cardioversion with cavutilide. ECV demonstrates high efficacy and a low rate of adverse events. However, its effectiveness depends on patients’ constitutional characteristics. Additionally, ECV requires total intravenous anesthesia, which may lead to sedation-related adverse events. Pharmacological cardioversion with cavutilide shows comparable efficacy to ECV. Studies indicate a favorable safety profile for cavutilide; however, due to the risk of proarrhythmic events, strict adherence to administration protocols and extended post-procedural monitoring in intensive care unit are obligatory.

Conclusion. The choice of the optimal method for restoring sinus rhythm in patients with persistent AF should be individualized.

About the Authors

L. M. Kalmanson
Pavlov University
Russian Federation

 Kalmanson Lev M. - Assistant of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Department, Head of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Department № 5  of the Research Clinical Center of Anesthesiology  and Intensive Care

6-8, L’va Tolstogo str., Saint Petersburg,  197022



E. I. Barashkova
Pavlov University
Russian Federation

 Barashkova Elizaveta I. - Postgraduate Student of the Department of Faculty Therapy with the Course of Endocrinology and Cardiology with Clinic named after Academician G. F. Lang. 

6-8, L’va Tolstogo str., Saint Petersburg,  197022



I. V. Shlyk
Pavlov University
Russian Federation

 Shlyk Irina V. - Dr. of Sci. (Med.), Professor of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Department, Deputy Head of the Research Clinical  Center of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care.

6-8, L’va Tolstogo str., Saint Petersburg,  197022



References

1. Arakelyan M. G., Bokeria L. A., Vasilyeva E. Yu. et al. Atrial fibrillation and flutter. Clinical Guidelines 2020. Russian Journal of Cardiology, 2021, no. 7, pp. 190–260. (In Russ.). http://doi.org/10.15829/1560-4071-2021-4594.

2. Wlodzyanovsky V. V., Malkina T. A., Sokolov S. F. et al. Restoration of sinus rhythm in patients with persistent atrial fibrillation in obese patients: new possibilities of drug cardioversion. Cardiology, 2017, vol. 57, no. 10, pp. 80-86. (In Russ.). https://doi.org/10.18087/cardio.2017.10.10036.

3. Wlodzyanovsky V. V., Mironov N. Yu., Yuricheva Yu. A. et al. Acute changes in atrial hemodynamics after electrical and drug cardioversion in patients with persistent atrial fibrillation. Bulletin of Arrhythmology, 2019, vol. 26, no. 1, pp. 24–30. (In Russ.). http://doi.org/10.25760/VA-2019-95-24-30.

4. Gurvich N. L., Yuniev G. S. On restoring the normal activity of the fibril lating heart of warm-blooded animals by means of capacitor discharge. Bul letin of Experimental Biology and Medicine, 1939, vol. 8, Issue 1, pp. 55–58. (In Russ.).

5. Dzaurova H. M., Mironov N. Yu., Yuricheva Yu. A. et al. Efficacy and safety of a modified protocol for cardioversion of atrial fibrillation using the domestic antiarrhythmic drug Refralon. The first results of clinical application. Cardiological bulletin, 2021, vol. 16, no. 1, pp. 49–55. (In Russ.). http://doi.org/10.17116/Cardiobulletin20211601149.

6. Maikov E.B., Yuricheva Yu.A., Mironov N.Yu. et al. Refralon (niferidil) is a new Class III antiarrhythmic drug for medical cardioversion of persistent atrial fibrillation and flutter. Therapeutic Archive, 2015, vol. 87, no. 1, pp. 38-48. (In Russ.). http://doi.org/10.17116/terarkh201587138-48.

7. Mironov N. Yu., Wlodzyanovsky V. V., Yuricheva Yu. A. et al. A prospective randomized trial of the efficacy and safety of electrical and medical cardio version in persistent atrial fibrillation. Part 1: Research methodology and ef fectiveness assessment. Rational pharmacotherapy in cardiology, 2018, vol. 14, no. 5, pp. 664–669. (In Russ.). http://doi.org/10.20996/1819-6446-2018-14-5-664-669.

8. Mironov N. Yu., Wlodzyanovsky V. V., Yuricheva Yu. A. et al. A prospective randomized trial of the efficacy and safety of electrical and medical cardio version in persistent atrial fibrillation. Part 2: safety assessment. Rational pharmacotherapy in cardiology, 2018, vol. 14, no. 6, pp. 826–830. (In Russ.). http://doi.org/10.20996/1819-6446-2018-14-6-826-830.

9. Mironov N. Yu., Yuricheva Yu. A., Wlodzyanovsky V. V. et al. The experience of clinical use of a domestic class III antiarrhythmic drug for drug-induced cardioversion of atrial fibrillation and flutter: results of a multicenter study. Part 1: Research methodology and effectiveness assessment. Rational pharma cotherapy in cardiology, 2021, vol. 17, no. 2, pp. 193–199. (In Russ.). http://doi.org/10.20996/1819-6446-2021-03-05.

10. Mironov N. Yu., Yuricheva Yu. A., Wlodzyanovsky V. V. et al. The experience of clinical use of a domestic class III antiarrhythmic drug for drug-induced cardioversion of atrial fibrillation and flutter: results of a multicenter study. Part 2: assessment of the safety of treatment. Rational pharmacotherapy in cardiology, 2021, vol. 17, no. 5, pp. 668–673. (In Russ.). http://doi.org/10.20996/1819-6446-2021-10-06

11. Yuricheva Yu. A., Mironov V. Yu., Dzaurova H. M. et al. Accumulated expe rience and new prospects for the use of the antiarrhythmic drug cavutilide. Breast cancer, 2023, no. 9, pp. 40–46. (In Russ.).

12. Asad. Z., Imran S., Parmar M. et al. Antero-lateral vs. antero-posterior electrode position for cardioversion of atrial fibrillation: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Journal of interventional Cardiac Electrophysiology, 2023, vol. 66, Iss. 9, pp. 1989–2001. http://doi.org/10.1007/s10840-023-01523-x.

13. Brandes A., Grijns H., Rienstra M. et al. Cardioversion of atrial fibrillation and atrial flutter revisited: current evidence and practical guidance for a com mon procedure. EP Europace, 2020, vol. 22, Iss. 8, pp. 1149–1161. http://doi.org/10.1093/europace/euaa057.

14. Brandes A., Smit M. D., Nguyen B. O. et al. Risk factor management in atrial fibrillation. Arrhythmia & electrophysiology review, 2018, vol. 7, Iss. 2, pp. 118–127. http://doi.org/10.15420/aer.2018.18.2.

15. Castrichini M., Restivo L., Fabris E. et al. Prevalence and predictors of persis tent sinus rhythm after elective electrical cardioversion for atrial fibrillation. Journal of Cardiovascular Medicine, 2021, vol. 22, Iss. 8, pp. 626–630. http://doi.org/10.2459/JCM.0000000000001182.

16. Charitakis E., Dragioti E., Stratinaki M. et al. Predictors of recurrence after catheter ablation and electrical cardioversion of atrial fibrillation: an umbrella review of meta-analyses. Europace, 2023, vol. 25, Iss. 1, pp. 40–48. http://doi.org/10.1093/europace/euac143.

17. Crijns H. J. G. M., Weijs B., Fairley A.M. et al. Contemporary real life cardio version of atrial fibrillation: Results from the multinational RHYTHM-AF study. International journal of cardiology, 2014, vol. 172, Iss. 3, pp. 588–594. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijcard.2014.01.099.

18. Grönberg T., Nuotio I., Nikkinen M. et al. Arrhythmic complications after electrical cardioversion of acute atrial fibrillation: the FinCV study. Europace, 2013, vol. 15, Iss. 10, pp. 1432–1435. http://doi.org/10.1093/europace/eut106.

19. Kirchhof P., Camm A. J., Goette A. et al. Early Rhythm-Control Therapy in Patients with Atrial Fibrillation. New England Journal of Medicine, 2020, vol. 383, Iss. 14, pp. 1305–1316. http://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMoa2019422.

20. Kwon C. H. External electrical cardioversion is an easy and safe intervention for rhythm control in persistent atrial fibrillation. Korean Circulation Journal, 2020, vol. 50, Iss. 6, pp. 524–526. http://doi.org/10.4070/kcj.2020.0122.

21. Leventopoulos G., Koros R., Travlos C. et al. Mechanisms of atrial fibrillation: How our knowledge affects clinical practice. Life, 2023, vol. 13, Iss. 6, pp. 1260. http://doi.org/10.3390/life13061260.

22. Lippi G., Sanchis-Gomar F., Cervellin G. Global epidemiology of atrial fibrillation: an increasing epidemic and public health challenge. Inter national journal of stroke, 2021, vol. 16, Iss. 2, pp. 217–221. http://doi.org/10.1177/1747493019897870.

23. Liu S., Stiell I., Eagles D. et al. Hypotension and respiratory events related to electrical cardioversion for atrial fibrillation or atrial flutter in the emergency department. Canadian Journal of Emergency Medicine, 2024, vol. 26, Iss. 2, pp. 103–110. http://doi.org/10.1007/s43678-023-00621-z.

24. Middeldorp M. E., Sandhu R. K., Mao J. et al. Risk Factors for the Develop ment of New-Onset Persistent Atrial Fibrillation: Subanalysis of the VITAL Study. Circulation: Arrhythmia and Electrophysiology, 2023, vol. 16, Iss. 12, pp. 651–662. http://doi.org/10.1161/CIRCEP.123.01233.

25. Mittal S., Ayati S., Stein K. M. et al. Transthoracic cardioversion of atrial fibrillation: comparison of rectilinear biphasic versus damped sine wave monophasic shocks. Circulation, 2000, vol. 101, Iss. 11, pp. 1282–1287.

26. Nguyen S., Belley-Cote E., Ibrahim O. et al. Techniques improving electrical cardioversion success for patients with atrial fibrillation: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Europace, 2023, vol. 25, Iss. 2, pp. 318–330. http://doi.org/10.1093/europace/euac199.

27. Okhotin A., Osipov M., Osipov V. et al. Atrial fibrillation: real-life experi ence of a rhythm control with electrical cardioversion in a community hos pital. BMC Cardiovascular Disorders, 2024, vol. 24, Iss. 1, pp. 213. http://doi.org/10.1186/s12872-024-03885-0.

28. Patrick R. Knowles P. R., Press C. Anaesthesia for cardioversion. BJA Educa tion, 2017, vol. 17, Iss. 5, pp. 166–171. http://doi.org/10.1093/bjaed/mkw055.

29. Rasmussen P. V., Blanche P., Dalgaard F. et al. Electrical cardioversion of atrial fibrillation and the risk of brady-arrhythmic events. American heart journal, 2022, vol. 244, pp. 42–49. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.ahj.2021.10.182.

30. Roth G. A., Mensah G. A., Johnson C. O. et al. Global burden of cardiovascular diseases and risk factors, 1990–2019: update from the GBD 2019 study. Journal of the American college of cardiology, 2020, vol. 76, Iss. 25, pp. 2982–3021. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.jacc.2020.11.010.

31. Schmidt A., Lauridsen K., Torp P. et al. Maximum-fixed energy shocks for cardioverting atrial fibrillation. European Heart Journal, 2020, vol. 41, Iss. 5, pp. 626–631. https://doi.org/10.1093/eurheartj/ehz585.

32. Troisi F., Guida P., Vitulano N. et al. Safety and efficacy of direct oral antico agulants versus vitamin K antagonists in atrial fibrillation electrical cardiover sion: An update systematic review and meta-analysis. International Journal of Cardiology, 2023, vol. 379, pp. 40–47. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijcard.2023.03.023.

33. Umeojiako W. I., Wilfred I., Dali M. et al. Electrical cardioversion for persis tent atrial fibrillation in the era of catheter ablation: a real-world observational study. European journal of Arrhythmia & Electrophysiology, 2022, vol. 8, Iss. 1, pp. 25. http://doi.org/10.17925/EJAE.2022.8.1.25.

34. Van Gelder I. C., Rienstra M., Bunting K. V. et al. 2024 ESC Guidelines for the management of atrial fibrillation developed in collaboration with the European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery (EACTS) Developed by the task force for the management of atrial fibrillation of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC), with the special contribution of the European Heart Rhythm Association (EHRA) of the ESC. Endorsed by the European Stroke Organisation (ESO). European Heart Journal, 2024, vol. 45, Iss. 36, pp. 3314–3414. http://doi.org/10.1093/eurheartj/ehae176.

35. Voskoboinik A., Moskovitch J., Plunkett G. et al. Cardioversion of atrial fibrillation in obese patients: Results from the Cardioversion-BMI random ized controlled trial. Journal of Cardiac Electrophysiology, 2019, vol. 30, Iss. 2, pp. 155–161. http://doi.org/10.1111/jce.13786.


Review

For citations:


Kalmanson L.M., Barashkova E.I., Shlyk I.V. Methods of sinus rhythm restoration in patients with persistent and long-standing persistent atrial fibrillation. Messenger of ANESTHESIOLOGY AND RESUSCITATION. 2025;22(3):100-107. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.24884/2078-5658-2025-22-3-100-107



Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.


ISSN 2078-5658 (Print)
ISSN 2541-8653 (Online)