Anterior-lateral defibrillation pad position effective for Cardioverting AF: Study

The Results of the study are as follows:

The researchers randomized 468 patients. The primary outcome occurred in 126 patients (54%) assigned to anterior-lateral electrode position and in 77 patients (33%) assigned to anterior-posterior electrode position, a risk difference of 22 percentage-points, 95%-confidence interval: 13-30, P<0.001. The number of patients in sinus rhythm after the final cardioversion shock was 216 patients (93%) assigned to anterior−lateral electrode position and 200 patients (85%) assigned to anterior-posterior electrode position, a risk difference of 7 percentage−points, 95%−confidence interval: 2−12. There were no significant differences between groups in any safety outcomes.

Thus, the researchers concluded that anterior-lateral electrode position was more effective than anterior-posterior electrode position for biphasic cardioversion of atrial fibrillation. There were no significant differences in any safety outcome.

Reference:

Anterior-Lateral Versus Anterior-Posterior Electrode Position for Cardioverting Atrial Fibrillation by Anders Sjørslev Schmidt et al. published in the Circulation.

https://doi.org/10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.121.056301