Converting

[ricky7023]

What is/are the prevailing theory or theories on why the heart rhythm converts spontaneously?  Thanks

[ricky7023]

So changing the geometry of the heart by coughing, laying on one's side, bearing down(?) might increase the liklihood of converting by affecting the pattern of these three dimensional waves?  And stimulating the vegal nerve might might work by increasing the area of the heart that is strongly polarized?  .  I can see that this is an area that is not well understood.  That's what I thought. Thanks again

[Michael J. McWilliams, M.D.]

I am going to assume that you are talking about atrial fibrillation.  There are many theories on the mechanism of sustained atrial fibrillation, most of which deal with dynamic three demensional waves in the atrium.  When the area of active depolarization hits an area of that is not ready to depoloarize, it stops.  

I have read text book chapters on the mechanisms of atrial fibrillation and find it incredibly confusing.

I hope this helps.