Are patients with atrial fibrillation discharged sooner after electrical or chemical cardioversion first?

BEEM Bottom Line

Why is this study important?

This is a pragmatic study that examines the time efficiency of 2 strategies for cardioversion (electrical and chemical) for new onset (i.e., < 48 hours, atrial fibrillation [AF]). Given AF is the most commonly treated dysrhythmia in the emergency department (ED), and this age of increasing demands on efficiency in the ED, questions like this one are of increasing usefulness.[1]

Which, if any, threats to validity are most likely to have an impact on the results and how?

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