When is synchronized cardioversion indicated?

Synchronized cardioversion is a procedure used to restore a normal heart rhythm in patients experiencing certain types of unstable tachyarrhythmias. When a patient is unstable, it means they may be experiencing symptoms such as hypotension, altered mental status, chest pain, or signs of shock, which can indicate that their current heart rhythm is not adequately supplying blood to the body.

The procedure involves delivering a timed electrical shock to the heart that is synchronized to the patient's own heartbeat, which reduces the risk of inducing ventricular fibrillation, a potentially life-threatening condition. In cases where patients have a rapid heart rate that is causing significant hemodynamic instability, synchronized cardioversion is the preferred treatment to quickly restore a normal rhythm and stabilize the patient.

Other choices presented in the question do not warrant synchronized cardioversion. For instance, stable bradycardia does not require this intervention, as patients are typically managed through observation or medications. Patients in cardiac arrest should receive immediate cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and defibrillation, rather than synchronized cardioversion, which is not applicable in such emergency scenarios. Lastly, anxiety-related symptoms do not relate to the need for synchronized cardioversion, as they pertain to psychological rather than