Ablation Surgery to Treat Atrial Fibrillation

What is atrial fibrillation?

Atrial fibrillation is a type of arrhythmia that causes a disruption in the normal function of the electrical conduction system of the heart. A-fib, or flutter, occurs when the atria beat at a faster rate than the ventricles, preventing the more coordinated and efficient contraction of a normal heart rhythm. This condition increases the risk of stroke.

What causes a-fib?

Some of the causes of atrial fibrillation are coronary artery disease, rheumatic heart disease, pericarditis (inflammation of the pericardial sack that surrounds the heart) and mitral-valve disease.

What is ablation surgery to treat a-fib?

Ablation surgery to treat atrial fibrillation uses an energy probe to form scars on the heart through two 1 ½" incisions in the right side of the chest.  These scars interrupt the chaotic electrical signals responsible for atrial fibrillation.  The Stamford Hospital Heart and Vascular Institute team, led by Dr. Poa, pioneered this minimally invasive surgery in 2003 and has taught and performed this surgery world-wide.

For more information about ablation surgery to treat atrial fibrillation, please call our Heart and Vascular Institute at  _______________________