A nurse is teaching a patient who is about to undergo direct-current (DC) cardioversion to treat atrial flutter
The patient has been taking verapamil and warfarin for 6 months. Which statement by the patient indicates understanding of the teaching?
a. "I may need long-term therapy with another cardiac medication after the procedure."
b. "I should stop taking warfarin a few days before the procedure."
c. "I will need to take a beta blocker after the procedure to prevent recurrence of atrial flutter."
d. "I will not have to take antidysrhythmia medications after the procedure."
ANS: A
After cardioversion for atrial flutter, patients may continue to need long-term therapy with either a class IC agent or a class III agent to prevent recurrence. Patients undergoing DC cardioversion need to take warfarin 3 to 4 weeks before the procedure and for several weeks afterward. Beta blockers are not indicated for postprocedural prophylaxis. Class IC and class III agents are antidysrhythmic drugs.
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