The research on the treatment of arrhythmia with electric current has a history of many years. In 1947, Beck et al. used alternating current to shock the heart of a thoracotomy patient for the first time in clinic to stop ventricular fibrillation. 1952, Zoll successfully used alternating current for cardioversion in vitro for the first time. 1962, Edmavk and Lown made a systematic study, and the heart rhythm was successfully converted into DC. Because the method of electrical cardioversion is relatively simple (especially asynchronous electrical cardioversion), in some countries, it is not only mastered by the majority of medical staff, but also known to the masses. It has been reported that family members or passers-by have successfully rescued sudden death patients by electrical cardioversion.
In China, cardioversion with alternating current is mainly used in heart surgery before 1965, and cardioversion with direct current is generally used in the afternoon of 1965. Since the symposium on cardioversion, pacing and defibrillation was held in Nanjing on 1975, cardioversion therapy for arrhythmia has been widely carried out in China. Because of its definite curative effect, safety and convenient use, it has been listed as one of the routine methods to rescue cardiac arrest or treat tachyarrhythmia in some big hospitals in China. It is expected that in the future, some qualified primary medical units will also be equipped with and master electrical cardioversion equipment and technology to rescue patients in time.