Treating AFib at Heritage Valley Health System

Atrial Fibrillation (AFib) is an irregular heartbeat or a condition in which the heart muscles fail to contract in a strong, rhythmic way. A racing, pounding heartbeat that occurs for no apparent reason should not be ignored, especially if accompanied with other symptoms such as shortness of breath, lightheadedness, dizziness, chest pain or unusual fatigue. AFib may affect your ability to perform daily activities and impact your overall quality of life.

Listed below are some of the procedures performed by Heritage Valley Electrophysiologists to help patients diagnosed with AFib:

Atrial Fibrillation Ablation: AFib Ablation is a minimally-invasive procedure that uses hot or cold energy to create scars in your heart tissue where the arrhythmia, or irregular/abnormal heart rhythm, is occurring. At Heritage Valley, we use Cryoablation (cold) and Radiofrequency (hot) ablation methods. The scars help to block the transmission of the electrical signals that cause the atrial fibrillation. By re-establishing normal heart rhythms in people with certain arrhythmias, AFib Ablation can help to control the heart rate in people with rapid arrhythmias and reduce the risk of blood clots, strokes, heart failure or other health complications.

Hybrid Ablation: Hybrid Ablation is a minimally-invasive treatment that combines both surgical and catheter-based techniques. Since only a few small chest incisions are required for Hybrid Ablation, the risk of complications is significantly reduced when compared to traditional heart surgery. One step of a Hybrid Ablation involves surgery on the outside of the heart, called an Epicardial Ablation. The second step, performed six to eight weeks before or after, is called an Endocardial Ablation and targets the AFib signals inside the heart. This procedure lowers the risk of stroke by closing the part of the atrium where blood clots typically form. In addition, a successful Hybrid Ablation may help to improve your overall heart function and reduce the number of heart medications you need to take.

Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator (ICD): An Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator (ICD) is a small battery-powered device typically placed on the left side of the heart, right under the collarbone. An ICD continuously checks the heartbeat and delivers electric shocks, when needed, to restore regular heart rhythm.

Permanent Pacemaker: A pacemaker is a small, battery-operated device that helps the heart beat in a regular rhythm.

WATCHMAN FLX™ Technology: For patients diagnosed with AFib not caused by a heart valve problem, The WATCHMAN FLX™ Implant is designed to keep harmful blood clots from entering your blood stream, potentially causing a stroke, by permanently closing off an area of the heart called the Left Atrial Appendage (LAA). By implanting the WATCHMAN FLX™ into the heart (through a catheter placed into a vein in the upper leg) and closing off the LAA, the risk of stroke may be reduced and, over time, patients may be able to stop taking their blood thinners. While closing the LAA reduces stroke risk associated with AFib, it does not treat the AFib itself.

For more information, visit the Heritage Valley Heart & Vascular Health webpage at https://www.heritagevalley.org/services/heart-vascular-health/. To schedule an appointment with Electrophysiologists Dr. Maninder Bedi, Dr. Christopher Kolibash, Dr. Ure Laura Mezu-Chukwu, or Dr. Glen Miske, call (724) 773-4502.