In some cases, your doctor can treat the abnormal heart cells that are causing atrial fibrillation through cath lab and surgical procedures.
In an ablation, a catheter (small, flexible tube) is threaded through a blood vessel to your heart. A device on the catheter is used to make a tiny scar so the abnormal cells can't send faulty signals.
A maze procedure creates scar tissue to keep abnormal electrical impulses from traveling through your heart. This procedure is done in open-heart surgery.
Atrial fibrillation (AF) causes the lower heart chambers (ventricles) to beat rapidly and irregularly, decreasing the heart’s ability to pump blood, causing heart failure. Long periods (weeks to months) of rapid AF stresses the heart muscle. Over time, this may decrease the heart’s ability to pump blood. In patients who already have low heart pump function, AF can increase the incidence of heart failure by more than 20%. Treating AF can help improve the heart’s pumping function. AF can occur even in a person with no heart disease. In these cases of “lone atrial fibrillation,” heart function can still weaken. Because the heart is otherwise healthy, treating AF can help the pump function get better and even help it return to normal.
The hybrid maze procedure helps manage atrial fibrillation (AFib) without relying on repeat treatments such as radiofrequency ablation therapy, cardioversions (ongoing electrical manipulation of heart rate) or continued adjustment of medications. The hybrid maze, so named for the maze-like set of incisions made on the left and right atria, is a multidisciplinary, closed-chest, minimally-invasive endoscopic procedure that creates scar lines (lesions) on the epicardium (the outside of the heart) without compromising the pericardium (the membrane sac enclosing the heart and other major surrounding vessels). The lesions work to divert the abnormal electrical impulses in the heart that cause the arrhythmia, isolating them and allowing the heart to return to its normal cadence. It also enables a single-setting procedure to be performed in the electrophysiology laboratory, potentially reducing post-procedure pain, decreasing length of hospital stay and improving recovery.
Before you go to your atrial fibrillation appointment, prepare by knowing your symptoms (when they started, frequency, duration, severity, anything that helps), medical history, and medications. Ask when you make the appointment whether or not you have to prepare in any special way, such as by not eating certain things that could skew test results. When you think of questions, write them down so that you don,t forget during the appointment. Bringing a friend or family member may help you remember important details, and the emotional support could help, too. Though a diagnostic appointment might be intimidating, the seriousness of atrial fibrillation makes it a necessary step to preserve your health.
Children who have atrial fibrillation experience the same symptoms as adults. However, children are less likely than adults to develop atrial fibrillation, because risk increases with age. Children also may not recognize or be able to articulate the symptoms. If you are concerned that your child has atrial fibrillation, talk to your doctor about treatment.
When medications do not work in the treatment of atrial fibrillation (AFib), there are alternatives:
Chronic atrial fibrillation occurs when the heart beats at an irregular (and often accelerated) rate. A person might experience random incidents of atrial fibrillation; in others, the disorder may be consistent, resulting in chronic atrial fibrillation. In chronic atrial fibrillation, the upper and lower chambers beat out of sync. The flow of blood to the body is reduced as a result, causing people to experience heart palpitations, low blood pressure, weakness, and even heart failure or stroke.
Atrial fibrillation (AFib) affects more than 2 million Americans. Because it causes the upper chambers of the heart (atria) to beat in an irregular pattern that isn't coordinated with the lower chambers (ventricles), blood flow to the body can be hampered, leading to symptoms such as chest pain, shortness of breath and fatigue. It also can lead to a pooling of blood, which can result in clots that could break free and wind up in the brain.
The biggest health concern for patients with AFib is the potential increase in the risk for stroke. For patients with heart valve conditions, such as mitral valve stenosis, or a prior history of stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA), that risk could be quite high. Other factors, such as high blood pressure, heart failure, diabetes and advancing age, all increase the risk of stroke.
Age and cardiovascular disease are the strongest predictors of AFib. You may be at risk if you've had a heart attack or heart failure, or have other structural problems with your heart, such as valve disease.
Medication or cardioversion may relieve symptoms. However, a procedure called cardiac ablation often is a cure. This involves creating a lesion in the heart area that fires abnormal electrical impulses.