Hybrid Procedure for Atrial Fibrillation Ablation in Fall River, MA
Commonly referred to as “the convergent procedure,” hybrid ablation is an effective new treatment for patients who have had persistent atrial fibrillation for an extended period of time and for whom conventional ablation treatment options have been unsuccessful. As a pioneer of treatments for atrial fibrillation and other heart conditions, Southcoast Health is one of the few centers in the Northeast to offer this latest technology.
If conventional cardiac ablation hasn’t remedied your heart condition, turn to the Atrial Fibrillation Wellness Program at Southcoast Health. Our team of experienced cardiac surgeons and electrophysiologists can provide excellent care for your heart with the convergent procedure: hybrid atrial fibrillation ablation in Fall River, MA.
Typical Candidates for Hybrid AF Ablation at Southcoast Health
Hybrid AFib ablation is typically considered for patients who have been diagnosed with “persistent atrial fibrillation,” meaning they have been experiencing atrial fibrillation for a long time or have not had success with multiple attempts at catheter ablation. These patients typically do not feel irregular or skipped heart beats, but instead experience some of the following symptoms:
- Feeling tired
- Difficulty breathing with exertion
- Taking naps during the day
- Inability to sleep at night
- Swelling in their legs
- General sense of ill-being
The abnormal short circuits of the heart — characterized by atrial fibrillation — in these patients have spread to the back wall of the top left chamber of the heart.
How Hybrid Ablation Works
Preventing the need for open heart surgery, hybrid ablation for atrial fibrillation combines a minimally invasive surgical procedure and catheter ablation in the same setting. Considered to be a best-of-both-worlds approach, this procedure requires the talents and experience of both a cardiac surgeon and an electrophysiologist.
The hybrid ablation procedure for atrial fibrillation targets resistant short circuits in the heart and reduces the risk of esophageal injury and postoperative atrial arrhythmias. The convergent procedure involves laparoscopic ablation of the back wall of the left atrium, performed by the cardiac surgeon, followed by pulmonary vein isolation, which is done by the electrophysiologist.
After undergoing hybrid ablation, patients typically spend no more than two nights in the hospital and have a recovery period of four to six weeks.
To learn more about hybrid ablation in Fall River, MA or to determine if you are a candidate for this convergent procedure contact Southcoast Health today.