Artial Fibrillation

If you have atrial fibrillation, you probably know that you have a 5 fold increase in your risk for a stroke. Patients' symptoms may be related to a rapid heart rate causing palpitations and feelings of fatigue due to loss of efficiency of the heart. Many drugs are available for this condition but they are not universally effective. Also some patients do not tolerate, won't, or do not want to take pills for this condition. Often patients are prescribed coumadin or warfarin for this condition. Coumadin is a potent blood thinner which requires a lifetime of careful monitoring and can cause major bleeding problems. In an effort to give our patients ALL the options in AF treatment we are teamed with electrophysiologists to offer minimally invasive surgical ablation of the heart for AF. We offer all treatments for this condition, including surgical and catheter based techniques. Call for a free consultation. Patients with AF and other associated conditions may be candidates for a new technique of minimally invasive surgical ablation as permanent treatment.

These conditions include: large atrial dimension (> 6cm), hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, sleep apnea, obesity, a history of a stroke, warfarin (Coumadin) intolerance, left atrial appendage disease, AF related to autonomic ganglionic plexi (AGP), any pre-existing complication of AF such as an embolic event or any patient with expected medical treatment of AF for more than 5 years.

Effectively treating AF with minimally invasive surgical or catheter techniques leads to fewer strokes, more freedom from dangerous drugs, and better quality of life. Contact us to meet with our AF team.