A variety of procedures are available at Indiana University Medical Center for reducing symptoms due to atrial fibrillation, the most common cardiac arrhythmia (or irregular heart beat). This type of treatment is often reserved for patients whose symptoms are not adequately treated by medications. Electrophysiologic testing procedures are performed by placing catheters within the heart through small skin punctures. During one type of procedure, areas within the heart responsible for causing atrial fibrillation are sought after, and are eliminated through a process called cardiac ablation. This procedure generally lasts between 4 to 6 hours, and an overnight hospital stay is usually required afterwards. This type of ablation can be a highly successful form of treatment in certain individuals. Many patients experience significant reduction in symptoms due to atrial fibrillation, and some may enjoy near-complete elimination of such symptoms. There is a small risk of serious complications arising from this procedure which may include infection, bleeding, stroke, heart and lung damage, blood vessel injury, formation of blood clots, and damage to the heart's normal electrical system requiring a permanent pacemaker. The combined risk of these complications is less than 1% in most patients referred for this type of procedure.

Some individuals are particularly bothered by the rapid, irregular pulse due to atrial fibrillation, but are without symptoms when their heart rate is normal during atrial fibrillation. Patients with rapid heart rate due to atrial fibrillation that is not adequately controlled by medications may benefit from a different type of ablation procedure, aimed at regulating their heart rate. This is performed in conjunction with placement of a permanent pacemaker. While this type of ablation doesn't eliminate atrial fibrillation itself, it often results in significant symptom relief by controlling the rapid, irregular pulse associated with atrial fibrillation.

Since 1999, over 350 ablation procedures have been performed at Indiana University Medical Center for treatment of atrial fibrillation. The physicians performing these procedures are continually improving techniques to improve safety and effectiveness. Technological advances have also been implemented to reduce X-ray exposure, increase success rates, and reduce complications.

Medications are often required for treatment of atrial fibrillation, even when ablation procedures are used. If you have atrial fibrillation and your symptoms are not adequately controlled with medications, talk to your doctor to see if you would benefit from a procedure to treat atrial fibrillation. If you would like to talk to a cardiac arrhythmia specialist at Indiana University Medical Center to discuss treatment of atrial fibrillation, please call Julie Haschel R.N., Cardiac Electrophysiology Nurse, at (317) 962-0106.