Restoration of Sinus Rhythm After Mitral Valve Replacement

ATRIAL FIBRILLATION is present before operation in a large proportion of patients in whom mitral valve replacement is necessary, and the arrhythmia almost always persists postoperatively. In such patients, restoration of normal sinus rhythm is desirable, and in this clinic conversion by electrical countershock has usually been attempted approximately six months after operation. Conversion has been initially successful in most patients, but a large number have later reverted to atrial fibrillation; sinus rhythm