Cryoablation for AFib
Atrial fibrillation treatment focuses on rate control, rhythm control, and stroke prevention. The goal of rhythm control is to keep the heart out of AFib and in a normal rhythm. Rhythm control can be accomplished with antiarrhythmic medications, DC cardioversion or ablation procedures. Catheter ablation is a minimally invasive procedure that uses freezing (cryoablation), heat […]
Common Surgeries to Help With Irregular Heartbeat
Atrial fibrillation is the most common irregular heart rhythm. People with atrial fibrillation are at increased risk for heart failure, stroke, and death. Increasing research supports attempting to maintain a normal heart rhythm early on in the process of atrial fibrillation. Medications and lifestyle changes used to be the only treatment options for atrial fibrillation, […]
How long does it take to recover from AFib Ablation?
There are three primary goals in the treatment of atrial fibrillation: alleviate symptoms, decrease the risk of heart failure, and reduce stroke risk. These treatment goals can be achieved with medications or procedures. What is an AFib ablation procedure? Atrial fibrillation ablation, most commonly via catheter ablation, is a procedure for atrial fibrillation which aims […]
How to Diagnose AFib?
Atrial fibrillation is the most common abnormal heart rhythm and increases a person’s risk of stroke and heart failure. Atrial fibrillation diagnosis is important because with proper diagnosis and treatment people with atrial fibrillation can live full, active lives. An important part of Afib diagnosis is also the identification and treatment of any underlying treatable […]
What Is A Pacemaker?
Atrial fibrillation is a chaotic, irregular rhythm treated with medications or procedures to slow the heart rate, decrease the frequency of AFib and prevent blood clots which can lead to stroke. Patients sometimes ask if AFib can be treated with a pacemaker. The answer to this question is that while a pacemaker is not used […]
AFib Treatment Through Catheter-Based Ablations & Pulmonary Vein Isolation
If a patient’s atrial fibrillation is not responding to less invasive treatment options such as medications or cardioversion, Dr. Laws can facilitate catheter based ablations such as radiofrequency, laser and cryo ablations. These procedures are used to physically block the undesirable chaotic rhythm when lifestyle changes and medications are not fixing AFib. Alternatively, the medications […]
AFib Treatment Through Arrhythmia Procedures
As discussed in previous editions of The Scoop, treatment of atrial fibrillation focuses on rate control, rhythm control and stroke prevention. Medications are often the first-line treatment for managing atrial fibrillation. However, there are times when medications alone are not enough to adequately treat AFib. When this is the case, we look to other options. […]