Can surgery fix AFib?

Can surgery fix AFib?

Minimally invasive surgery is an option for many patients with atrial fibrillation. Surgical treatment for atrial fibrillation also may be considered when surgery is needed to treat a coexisting heart condition, such as valve or coronary artery disease.

What is the surgical procedure for AFib?

The Maze procedure is a type of heart surgery used to treat atrial fibrillation. The heart has 4 chambers. There are 2 upper chambers called atria and 2 lower chambers called ventricles.

What is the recovery time for AFib surgery?

Open-heart maze is major surgery. You’ll spend a day or two in intensive care, and you may be in the hospital for up to a week. At first, you’ll feel very tired and have some chest pain. You can probably go back to work in about 3 months, but it may take 6 months to get back to normal.

How risky is AFib surgery?

What risks are involved in cardiac ablation? Risks include bleeding, pain, and infection at the catheter insertion site. More serious complications are rare, but may include: blood clots.

Can you come out of AFib on your own?

As weird or scary as an episode may feel, AFib by itself usually isn’t deadly. Some episodes of AFib can come and go on their own. Others may need treatment to get your heart back to a normal rate and rhythm. Sometimes, you may be able to take steps to help ease symptoms or stop an episode when it starts.

How long does heart ablation surgery take?

Catheter ablation can take between two and four hours to complete. The procedure is done in an electrophysiology lab where you will be monitored closely. Before the procedure begins, you will be given intravenous medications to help you relax and even fall asleep.

Are you awake for cardiac ablation?

What can I expect during surgical ablation? During surgical ablation, you can expect the following: General anesthesia (the patient is asleep) or local anesthesia with sedation (the patient is awake but relaxed and pain-free) may be used, depending on the individual case.

What is the best treatment for atrial fibrillation?

Atrial fibrillation is accepted as the new “normal” heart rhythm, and therapy is aimed at controlling the heart rate in order to minimize any symptoms being caused by the atrial fibrillation. Treatments include heart rate control medications such as digitalis, beta-blockers, and calcium channel blockers.

What to expect after cardioversion?

After cardioversion, you may have redness, like a sunburn, where the patches were. The medicines you got to make you sleepy may make you feel drowsy for the rest of the day. Your doctor may have you take medicines to help the heart beat normally and to prevent blood clots.

Can you correct AFIB?

In some cases, atrial fibrillation can be corrected with an electric shock to the heart called a cardioversion. In severe emergency cases this may be the only choice to control the AFib. Medications may also be tried to do the cardioversion of your heart rhythm.

What causes AFIB after surgery?

Sometimes the cause of AFib is unknown. Other times, it is the result of damage to the heart’s electrical system from other conditions, such as longstanding, uncontrolled high blood pressure or coronary artery disease. AFib is also the most common complication after heart surgery.