As luck would have it, I'm a cardiac electrophysiologist (a cardiologist who specializes in abnormal heart rhythms). I perform the procedure (ablation) that you mentioned.
Just a few words about atrial fibrillation. The heart has top (atria) and bottom (pumping) chambers that normally work in-sync. When the electical activity of the top chamber becomes chaotic, it is known as atrial fibrillation. As a result, the heart beats irregularly and rapidly.
Treatment goals include 1) slowing the heart rate down, usually with medications 2) protecting against stroke (there is a tendency toward forming blood clots with atial fib) with blood thinners and 3) restoring the heart's normal rhythm.
Restoring the hearts normal rhythm can be achieved in 2 ways. The first is with medications coupled with a minor procedure called a cardioversion. The second is with the ablation procedure you mentioned. I won't go into the details, but suffice it to say that the ablation procedure for atrial fibrillation is not a small thing. It is rather complex and of variable success. I would encourage you to have a detailed discussion of all options with your cardiologist.
Good luck with your hospitalization. Hopefully, we'll be able to have that detailing session sometime in the future.
Sincerely,
Rick Borge
Just a few words about atrial fibrillation. The heart has top (atria) and bottom (pumping) chambers that normally work in-sync. When the electical activity of the top chamber becomes chaotic, it is known as atrial fibrillation. As a result, the heart beats irregularly and rapidly.
Treatment goals include 1) slowing the heart rate down, usually with medications 2) protecting against stroke (there is a tendency toward forming blood clots with atial fib) with blood thinners and 3) restoring the heart's normal rhythm.
Restoring the hearts normal rhythm can be achieved in 2 ways. The first is with medications coupled with a minor procedure called a cardioversion. The second is with the ablation procedure you mentioned. I won't go into the details, but suffice it to say that the ablation procedure for atrial fibrillation is not a small thing. It is rather complex and of variable success. I would encourage you to have a detailed discussion of all options with your cardiologist.
Good luck with your hospitalization. Hopefully, we'll be able to have that detailing session sometime in the future.
Sincerely,
Rick Borge
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