What does cardioversion involve?

Cardioversion is specifically a procedure that involves the delivery of a synchronized shock to the heart in order to restore a normal heartbeat. This is often performed in cases of certain types of arrhythmias, such as atrial fibrillation or atrial flutter, where the heart rhythm has become chaotic. The synchronized shock is carefully timed to occur during a specific phase of the heart's electrical cycle to minimize the risk of inducing more serious arrhythmias, such as ventricular fibrillation.

The process is quite distinct from other interventions for cardiac conditions. For example, while the use of antiarrhythmic medications can also help manage abnormal heart rhythms, it does not involve the immediate restoration of sinus rhythm through electrical means. Ablation procedures are usually aimed at destroying specific areas of cardiac tissue responsible for irregular rhythms, which is a different approach altogether. Lastly, the insertion of a pacemaker is related to managing chronic arrhythmias by providing continuous pacing rather than delivering a one-time correction through a shock.

Thus, option B accurately describes the essence of cardioversion as an emergency or elective procedure aimed at re-establishing a normal heart rhythm via synchronized electrical shock.