Everything You Need to Know About Atrial Fibrillation Surgery

Atrial fibrillation (AFib) is a common heart rhythm disorder characterized by rapid and irregular electrical signals in the heart’s upper chambers (atria). This irregularity disrupts the normal coordination of heartbeats, leading to palpitations, shortness of breath, dizziness, and fatigue. AFib increases the risk of stroke, heart failure, and other cardiovascular complications. Various factors, including age, high blood pressure, heart disease, obesity, and thyroid problems, can cause it. Treatment options include medications to control heart rate and rhythm, blood thinners to prevent clot formation, and atrial fibrillation surgery. Read on to learn more about atrial fibrillation surgery, including surgery options, complications, recovery time, and atrial fibrillation surgery cost.

Atrial Fibrillation Surgery Options

There are many types of atrial fibrillation surgery options available to patients. Treatment depends on the area where the electrical misfiring begins and the frequency of the A-fib. Generally, atrial fibrillation surgeries are minimally invasive and typically performed in under two hours. Some of the common atrial fibrillation surgery options include:

Ablation

Ablation is a surgical procedure to treat atrial fibrillation. It uses small burns to cause scarring on the insides of the heart to break up the electrical signals causing irregular heartbeats and maintaining a normal heart rhythm. It is performed on patients who experience shortness of breath and palpitations and when medications do not help reduce the symptoms. However, ablations only help control the symptoms and do not prevent the need for blood thinners to prevent strokes. An ablation is a good option if the patient has no structural problems in the heart but only has symptoms of atrial fibrillation. Some of the common types of ablation procedures include – catheter ablation, hybrid surgical catheter ablation, and surgical ablation.

Electrical Cardioversion

Electrical cardioversion is a procedure that helps reset the heartbeat to a normal rhythm. It is done using a defibrillator – usually a handheld paddle or electrode patches on the chest and back. Patients at high risk for dangerous arrhythmias are implanted with ICD (Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillator) to correct the rhythm – the wires from the device send a shock to the heart whenever needed. However, this is only a temporary solution, and the patient may need atrial fibrillation surgery at a later time.

Pacemaker

A pacemaker is a tiny electrical device that sends electric signals to the heart when it senses that the heartbeat is too fast or slow, thereby stabilizing abnormal heart rhythms. It is used only among patients with other arrhythmia along with atrial fibrillation. Unlike ICDs, which can detect abnormal heart rhythms and deliver shock impulses, the pacemaker can only send electrical impulses to control heart rhythm. Implanting a pacemaker is a surgical procedure, but sometimes the doctor may prescribe a catheter or vein-based approach.

Open Heart Maze Procedure

A maze procedure is one of the many atrial fibrillatory surgery procedures that creates a specific maze pattern of scar tissue to block abnormal signals and only allow normal heartbeat signals to come through. This is a fairly safe procedure with an 80 to 90 percent success rate. The maze in the procedure is similar to the maze game in real life, where there are several routes that lead nowhere, but only one route leads to the atria to receive a normal signal. An open heart maze procedure provides long-term relief from atrial fibrillation and lowers your risk of stroke.

Atrial Fibrillation Surgery Complications

All atrial fibrillation surgery procedures include complications. For instance, some of the most common complications associated with ablation include – bleeding, blood vessel damage, heart valve damage, blood clots that could lead to stroke, and even damage to the heart, which could require a pacemaker. Patients undergoing an open heart maze procedure could experience a skipped heartbeat for the first few months after surgery. Some patients may need a pacemaker because of a heart block.

Atrial Fibrillation Surgery Recovery

The recovery time for each atrial fibrillation surgery depends on the procedure and the patient’s overall health. Patients who have undergone ablation may need several weeks to recover completely. The destroyed tissues inside the heart may take up to eight weeks. You must avoid strenuous activities, including lifting weights, exercising, or driving. Patients recovering from the maze procedure may be advised to rest for up to eight weeks before resuming normal activities. Some patients may experience episodes of atrial fibrillation during this time, which may lessen as they recover. Similarly, patients recovering from a pacemaker procedure may be advised to rest for four to six weeks.

Atrial Fibrillation Surgery Cost

The cost of atrial fibrillation surgery depends on several factors, including the hospital’s location, the surgeon’s experience, and the procedure’s complexity.

Finding a Heart Specialist in Nagercoil

When looking for a qualified heart specialist in Nagercoil, we suggest asking for references from friends and family. It is important that the cardiologist is polite and patiently answers your questions. You must be a part of the healthcare decisions.
Visit us if you are looking for the best heart hospitals in Nagercoil. We promise the best treatment at an affordable cost.