Atrial Fibrillation (AFib) Treatment

The chance of developing AFib goes up with age, existing health conditions and lifestyle factors, such as:

• Diabetes
• Chronic kidney disease
• Genetics
• Hypothyroidism
• Heart disease, defects or previous surgery
• Heavy alcohol, caffeine or drug use
• Obesity

People with AFib may experience these symptoms:

• Chest pain or pressure
• Dizziness or light-headedness
• Fatigue
• Palpitations
• Shortness of breath

If you have symptoms and they last for more than 24 hours, call your doctor or go to a Desert Care Network hospital for proper diagnosis and treatment. If you do not have symptoms and may be at risk, schedule regular check-ups to monitor your heart.

Atrial fibrillation (AFib) is one of the most common type of heart rhythm disorders in the United States. AFib happens when the heart’s electrical system has a problem that causes the heart to fibrillate or beat very rapidly. When this occurs, the heart cannot pump blood properly throughout the body. In some cases, AFib may cause chest pain, palpitations, lightheadedness, fatigue, anxiety and shortness of breath. Yet, some people may not feel any symptoms. Left untreated, AFib can increase the chance of a stroke, heart failure, or other complications.

AFib treatment options range from lifestyle changes, medicines (for heart rate and rhythm control, and blood thinners to prevent blood clots that may lead to stroke), medical devices and traditional or minimally invasive surgery.

Desert Care Network offers an array of procedures which directly target the cells that cause electrical misfires within the heart muscle. These techniques are designed to help patients reduce the need for AFib medications - and the side effects that come along with those:

Pacemaker

A pacemaker is a small, battery-operated device implanted just beneath the skin to treat heart conditions that cause the heart to beat too slowly, too fast or with an irregular rhythm. Pacemakers deliver electrical impulses to stimulate the heart muscle so it beats at a consistent pace.

Cardioversion

Cardioversion uses quick, low-energy shocks through pads placed on the chest and back to help restore a regular heart rhythm. Cardioversion may be administered during a scheduled appointment or as an emergency treatment.

Maze procedure

In the Maze procedure a surgeon creates scar tissue in the heart’s top chambers where AFib starts to form a maze. The maze pattern prevents abnormal electric signals from interrupting normal signals, bringing your heart rhythm back to normal.

Catheter ablation

Catheter ablation is a treatment to regulate heart rhythms by destroying small areas of heart tissue causing the problem. In this procedure, an electrophysiologist guides a thin, flexible tube or catheter through blood vessels to find, destroy or freeze small areas of the heart causing abnormal heart rhythm. Different energy sources may be recommended for this procedure:

• Cryoablation
• Stereotaxis
• Pulsed Field Ablation
• Ultrasound

Watchman™ Implant Surgery

The Watchman is a small, parachute-shaped device implanted in the heart’s left atrial appendage for people with AFib to help reduce risk of stroke. The device may be recommended as an alternative to blood thinners.