Electric shock is a treatment method that helps to quickly extinguish and stabilize cardiac arrhythmias. There are two methods of electric shock being used, including: cardioversion and defibrillation.

Electric cardioversion is a method of using electric current to suppress rapid arrhythmias that are taking over the sinus rhythm, allowing the sinus rhythm to return to its role as the pacemaker. It should be noted that electric shock should not be understood as using electric current to "stimulate" the heart to beat.

Indications for treatment of arrhythmias with extrathoracic electric shock will depend on the symptoms and severity of the patient. In some cases, it is possible to combine methods for cardiovascular emergency such as: medication, defibrillation, cardioversion, implantation of pacemaker - automatic defibrillator (ICDs), resynchronized pacemaker heart, pacemaker implantation, and surgery.