Cardioversion

[JoKelly]

My husband was in permanent AFib for three years and was given a cardioversion at his own request on lst May this year.  He is 78 years old and otherwise healthy and quite strong.  This was successful and he has not reverted into AFib since (about four weeks now).  My question is - knowing that about 40 percent only stay in sinus following this procedure, how long is the average time lapse if it isn't a success?

[Jerry_NJ]

Yes, staying optimistic is key I think.

Re-reading I see a couple of key typos in my post above. 1) I am in permanent AFib.  2) My symptoms are tolerable, mostly.  So doctors not willing to take risks to stop it through ablation or the like, also not likely to work anyway.

[JoKelly]

Yes, he has been on Warfarin for the whole three years, plus Bisoprolol.  He has continued with these meds since the cardioversion but we wondered what to expect..Since he had no troublesome symptoms while he was in AF, then he just continued from day to day, but lately he had some shortness of breath on lying down, which is why he sought alternative treatment.  Fingers crossed then!

[Jerry_NJ]

My longest time in NSR following an electrocardioversion was about 18 months, that happened twice.   Other tries lasted about a month and one, the last, less than a week.

The first one was treated with Toprolol 50 mg, and was the one that lasted about a month (could have been a little longer).

The second one was treated with Propafenone 225 mg three time a day and lasted for 18 months.  I recall doing that twice, each for about the same time.

My condition was aggravated by a "leaky" Mitral Valve (see my bio), which was repaired in 2007.  I am not in permanent AFib and take meds to lower my HR and to reduce clot formation (anticoagulant)... my symptoms and not tolerable (not what I'd like) and my enlarged heart is a poor candidate for any intervention such as ablation.  

I assume your husband is taking something to hold him in NSR (such as a beta blocker or stronger) and some form of anticoagulant (at last a aspirin).  If not I'd suggest discussing with his doctor(s).