A new study, which was approved by the ethics committee of the University of Freiburg, has found that impaired renal function can be linked to patients with atrial fibrillation experiencing a higher risk of a recurrence of their AF symptoms even after having a successful cardioversion. This was discovered after a follow-up.

The study was conducted with researchers collecting data from 188 patients in a row. All of the patients were Caucasian and suffering from persistent atrial fibrillation (AF). The patients had all undergone an elective cardioversion that was successful between August 2007 and August 2009. All of the patients also had a transesophageal echocardiography performed on them as well before the cardioversion which was meant to prevent the formulation of thrombus from occurring in the left atrium. The cardioversion was considered successful if the patients experienced a stable sinus rhythm for a minimum of 15 minutes after cardioversion.

After the cardioversion, researchers followed up with the patients after 1 and 12 months. Those follow-ups included examinations and “analysis of eGFR, 48-hour Holter monitoring and 2D echocardiography evaluating left atrial size and left ventricular ejection fraction.” In the cases where the patients experienced a recurrence of their AF, a 12-lead ECG was conducted. More follow ups were conducted at 3, 6, and 9 months by phone.

Cardioversion is the the process of using electrical shocks as a means of restoring the heart’s normal rhythm. Since the study shows that even successful cardioversions don’t prevent AF permanently, patients will have to continue to rely on various medications like Multaq to control their AF symptoms. But Multaq is considered by many doctors to be a last-ditch effort at helping patients, since it is known to cause liver failure. If you or a loved one have suffered from liver failure after taking Multaq, contact attorney Greg Jones today for a free consultation. I am experienced at fighting Multaq lawsuits and may be able to help you recover money for your injuries.