Cardiologist Serving Katy, Sugar Land, Greater Houston
Cardioversion is a treatment that can restore a normal heart rhythm in people with arrhythmias such as atrial fibrillation and atrial flutter. Board-certified cardiologist Dr. Adnan Khalid evaluates patients at our Katy and Sugar Land offices, and planned electrical cardioversion is performed at an affiliated hospital.
Dr. Khalid reviews your symptoms, history and test results himself
Visits in Katy and Sugar Land
Catheter and device procedures at an affiliated hospital
Office follow-up on medicines and risk factors
Cardioversion is a treatment that resets an abnormal heart rhythm back to a normal rhythm. It can be done with medicine (pharmacologic cardioversion) or with a brief, controlled electrical shock timed to your heartbeat (electrical cardioversion). It is most often used for atrial fibrillation (AFib) or atrial flutter, and sometimes for other fast rhythms such as supraventricular tachycardia (SVT), which can cause palpitations, dizziness, fatigue and shortness of breath.
Electrical cardioversion is a hospital-based procedure because it requires sedation, continuous monitoring and staff trained in airway and rhythm management. Planned procedures are scheduled at an affiliated hospital, and our office will explain where yours will take place. Advanced Cardiology sees patients at our Katy and Sugar Land offices, including patients from Richmond and nearby communities.
Emergencies are different. If a fast or irregular heartbeat comes with chest discomfort, fainting, severe shortness of breath or other signs of a heart attack or stroke, call 911 rather than calling our office.
Adnan Khalid, MD, a board-certified cardiologist, will review whether cardioversion fits your situation, discuss risks, benefits and alternatives, and help plan ongoing treatment to maintain a healthy heart rhythm.
Adnan Khalid, MD, Cardiologist
Adnan Khalid, MD, specializes in treating coronary artery disease, peripheral artery disease, heart failure, hypertension, arrhythmias, and hyperlipidemia. He has over 10 years of experience in the field of cardiovascular medicine.
Dr. Khalid graduated from his medical school among the top 10 out of 250 medical students in his class. He is fellowship trained in cardiovascular diseases, interventional cardiology, advanced heart failure, and transplant cardiology. He is focused on providing personalized and compassionate care. Dr. Khalid believes in spending time with his patients and listening to their needs and is committed to offering excellent care.
Dr. Khalid is an avid reader. He is eager to learn new things, and he likes to work out and spend time with his family. When off from work, he likes to travel and spend time in nature along with family and friends. He is married with three children. Dr. Adnan Khalid is now seeing patients at our Katy and Sugar Land clinics—accepting new patients from Houston and surrounding areas.
American Board of Internal Medicine
Interventional Cardiology
Cardioversion is one treatment option for certain irregular heart rhythms, especially when symptoms interfere with quality of life or when medicines alone have not restored a normal heartbeat. It is most often considered for atrial fibrillation (AFib) and atrial flutter.
Restores a normal heart rhythm
Electrical cardioversion delivers a precisely timed shock that can reset the heart into normal (sinus) rhythm. When it works, many people notice improvement in palpitations, fatigue and shortness of breath, although how quickly symptoms improve varies.
Stroke risk is managed, not removed
AFib raises the risk of blood clots and stroke, and the period around cardioversion carries its own clot risk. That is why most patients need blood-thinning medicine for a period before and after the procedure, or a transesophageal echocardiogram (TEE) to look for clots first. Restoring normal rhythm alone does not eliminate stroke risk, so decisions about long-term blood thinners are based on your overall risk.
May help heart function
A persistently fast or irregular heartbeat can weaken the heart muscle over time in some people. Restoring a steady rhythm may help the heart pump more effectively, particularly when the arrhythmia has contributed to heart failure.
Guides long-term planning
How you feel in normal rhythm, and how long it lasts, helps your cardiologist decide on the best long-term plan, which may include medicines, lifestyle changes or a referral for procedures such as ablation.
Cardioversion does not cure the underlying cause of an arrhythmia, and AFib can return—sometimes within days or months. Some people need repeat cardioversion, antiarrhythmic medicine or other treatment. Rate-control medicines without cardioversion are a reasonable option for some patients.
Atrial fibrillation or atrial flutter:
These are two of the most common arrhythmias. They often cause the heart to beat irregularly and too fast, leading to palpitations, shortness of breath and fatigue. Over time, they can raise the risk of stroke and heart failure. Cardioversion can restore a normal rhythm and ease symptoms, while stroke prevention is managed separately.
Supraventricular tachycardia (SVT):
SVT is a sudden, rapid heartbeat that starts above the heart’s lower chambers. It can cause lightheadedness, chest discomfort or a pounding heart. Many episodes respond to other measures or medicine; electrical cardioversion is used in selected cases.
Persistent arrhythmias not controlled by medicine:
Sometimes antiarrhythmic medicines are not enough to restore or maintain a normal rhythm. Cardioversion may then be considered, especially when the irregular heartbeat affects daily function or heart health.
At Advanced Cardiology, cardioversion is considered as part of an overall rhythm-management plan tailored to your needs, with the goals of helping you feel better and lowering the risk of complications.
If your heart is beating out of rhythm and it is affecting your daily life, cardioversion may be worth discussing. You may be a candidate if:
You have symptoms of an arrhythmia, such as palpitations, dizziness, fatigue or fluttering in the chest
You have atrial fibrillation or atrial flutter that has not returned to normal rhythm on its own or with medicine
Your irregular rhythm is thought to be contributing to heart weakness or other complications
Your cardiologist recommends a rhythm-control strategy for your long-term care
Cardioversion may not be the right choice if a clot is present in the heart, if the arrhythmia is very long-standing and likely to return quickly, or if other health issues make sedation risky. Alternatives can include rate-control medicines, antiarrhythmic medicines or ablation. Dr. Khalid will talk through these options with you.
Patients from Katy, Sugar Land and nearby communities start with a visit at one of our two offices; call to ask about current appointment availability.
Advanced Cardiology accepts most major insurance plans, and coverage is verified individually. Because cardioversion is hospital-based, the hospital and other providers may bill separately, and some plans require prior authorization. For questions, call our office or check with your insurance provider before your procedure.
Cardioversion is one step in managing a heart rhythm condition. Depending on your response, your cardiologist may recommend:
Medication adjustments to help maintain normal rhythm
Ongoing heart monitoring, such as a Holter monitor or loop recorder
Continuing blood thinners to lower stroke risk in AFib, based on your individual risk
Lifestyle changes and follow-up visits, or a referral to discuss ablation
Your care team will give you specific instructions about when to stop eating and drinking, and how to take each of your medicines, including blood thinners, diabetes medicines and heart rhythm medicines. Do not stop or change any medicine on your own. Missing blood-thinner doses before cardioversion can affect whether the procedure can go ahead safely, so tell the team about any missed doses. Plan for someone to drive you home.
At the hospital, an IV is placed and pads are put on your chest and sometimes your back. You receive sedation so you are asleep or very drowsy, and a brief shock is delivered through the pads. Some patients have a TEE first. The shock itself takes seconds, and you are monitored afterward until you are ready to go home, which is often the same day.
Possible risks include skin irritation or burns where the pads were placed, reactions to sedation, other arrhythmias right after the shock and, uncommonly, a blood clot that causes a stroke. Most people resume normal activities soon, but recovery varies, so follow the instructions you receive. Call 911 for chest discomfort, stroke signs such as face drooping, arm weakness or speech difficulty, or fainting after the procedure.
Dr. Khalid will review the result with you, check your rhythm at follow-up, often with an EKG, and adjust your long-term plan. Bring a current list of your medicines, including any blood thinner, to each follow-up visit.
Because you are sedated, most people do not remember the shock. Afterward, the skin under the pads may feel tender or look red, similar to a mild sunburn, for a few days.
Pharmacologic cardioversion uses antiarrhythmic medicine to convert the rhythm instead of a shock. Some of these medicines are started under monitoring. Your cardiologist will explain which approach fits your rhythm, heart function and other health conditions.
For some people, normal rhythm lasts a long time; for others, AFib returns. Managing contributing factors such as high blood pressure, sleep apnea, alcohol use and weight, along with medicines when needed, may help maintain normal rhythm. Your follow-up plan is designed around how your rhythm responds.
Sources: NHLBI: Atrial Fibrillation; MedlinePlus: Atrial Fibrillation; NHLBI: Arrhythmias; American Stroke Association: Stroke Symptoms.
Please print out your paperwork and bring it to your appointment at Advanced Cardiology. If your insurance requires authorization, please be sure to have that information sent to our office or bring it with you to your appointment, along with any medical records you may have. Please also make sure to bring your insurance cards, photo ID, and medication list.
Thank you, and we look forward to meeting you! Contact us with any questions.
Most insurance plans accepted
(713) 258-6111
Katy & Sugar Land Cardiologist
# Cooperative & professional staff. Dr. Khalid is highly competent & experienced. Very kind & friendly too.
# He’s A Very Caring & Concerned Doctor. He Asks Important Questions, He Allows Me To Ask Questions & Fully Answers To My Satisfaction. He Diagnosis & Does Whatever It Takes To Fix My Health Issues. He’s A Wonderful Doctor…& Most Of All, I Trust Him & His Staff.
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Katy & Sugar Land Cardiologist
Advanced Cardiology welcomes new patients at its offices in Katy and Sugar Land. Call our office or send an appointment request, and our staff will follow up.
Most major insurance plans accepted; coverage is verified individually.
For possible heart attack or stroke symptoms, call 911.
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