A medical procedure that uses electrical shock or medications to restore normal heart rhythm in patients with certain types of abnormal heart rhythms (arrhythmias). Electrical cardioversion delivers a synchronized shock to the heart, while chemical cardioversion uses antiarrhythmic drugs.
From Greek 'kardia' meaning heart and Latin 'vertere' meaning to turn or convert. The term reflects the procedure's goal of converting abnormal heart rhythms back to normal sinus rhythm.
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