Table of contents
Both paroxysmal and persistent Afib can be treated, through lifestyle modifications, medication and procedures.
Medicines may help you control your heart rhythm, slow a fast heart rate, prevent blood clots and lower stroke risk. They may also be prescribed to treat any conditions that increase risk for AFib such as excess weight, sleep apnea or an overactive thyroid.
Latest Treatment for Atrial Fibrillation
- Thermal Ablation: Uses extreme temperatures to restore regular heart rhythm, a common option.
- WATCHMAN Procedure: Minimally invasive, it places the WATCHMAN device through a catheter to prevent clots.
- Optogenetics: Researching light therapy (optogenetics) to control cells and restore heart rhythm.
- Medications: Beta blockers, calcium channel blockers used to control heart rate, rhythm, prevent clots.
- Cardioversion: Low-energy shocks to heart restore regular rhythm.
- Catheter Ablation: Catheter delivers energy to create scar tissue, disrupting abnormal signals causing AFib.
Treatment choice hinges on AFib’s severity, health factors, and patient preferences. Consult healthcare professional for appropriate treatment.
Cryoballoon Catheter Ablation
Cryoballoon catheter ablation uses a similar process to radiofrequency ablation; however, instead of heating energy it uses liquid nitrogen to freeze areas of the heart that contribute to atrial fibrillation. The procedure usually lasts two to four hours and may require overnight hospital stays for its completion.
Like antiarrhythmic drugs, this procedure does not treat atrial fibrillation itself but instead targets its triggers to minimize future episodes. It has proven particularly successful for treating patients suffering from paroxysmal atrial fibrillation that recurs intermittently.
Northwestern Medicine Bluhm Cardiovascular Institute is one of only a few hospitals in the region to offer Arctic Front Advance, the latest version of this procedure which has recently received FDA clearance as a first-line therapy to treat atrial fibrillation that does not respond to antiarrhythmic drug therapy.
This approval comes after results of the STOP AF First trial showed significantly greater freedom from atrial fibrillation over 12 months when compared with those treated only with antiarrhythmic drugs alone.
Pacemaker Implantation
Controlling rhythm in early-stage AFib is key, whether through medication or less-invasive procedures like cardiac ablation. This process takes place in a sterile lab or operating room under local anesthesia and sedation, using heat or cold energy to destroy tissues sending stray electrical signals that trigger atrial fibrillation.
Surgical ablation can help prevent blood clots and stroke by closing off the pulmonary veins. A new technique using catheters to create scar tissue around these veins may improve how patients respond to their AFib medications.
If medications and therapies are failing to control your AFib, our specialists may implant a pacemaker into your chest. They offer single-chamber pacemakers, dual-chamber pacemakers and biventricular pacemakers as options; expect to spend one night at the hospital after this procedure for observation before going home afterwards; arrange for someone to transport you home afterwards.
Heart Valve Replacement
When valves don’t open or close as intended, doctors may suggest surgery to repair or replace it (valve replacement).
If your heart’s mitral valve needs fixing on the left side of your heart, a mitral valve operation could replace its natural valve with either biological (pig, cow or human tissue) or mechanical (metal) alternatives.
Your right ventricle and lungs may also require a pulmonary valve replacement in order to have proper blood flow; an operation such as this may also be necessary if there is pulmonary valve stenosis which limits it.
Your options for having heart surgery vary; traditional open-heart surgery involves making an invasive cut in your chest; or you might opt for minimally invasive procedures involving a thin tube that enters an artery from either groin or arm and guides it directly to the aortic valve – known as transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI).
Edoxaban
AFib can be treated using medications that slow the heartbeat, prevent blood clots and restore normal heart rhythm – such as beta blockers or calcium channel blockers. Furthermore, antiarrhythmics may also be prescribed.
Another treatment option is taking an anticoagulant known as Edoxaban (Lixiana), part of the novel oral anticoagulant class of drugs known as NOACs. Edoxaban works by inhibiting factor Xa, an important protein involved in blood clotting.
When taken, its purpose is to lower stroke and systemic embolism risk for people living with nonvalvular aFib who possess risk factors for blood clots like age over 75, high blood pressure, diabetes or having experienced prior stroke/TIA events.
People taking edoxaban should inform their physician before undertaking surgery that requires spinal or epidural anesthesia, puncture procedures or similar processes that increase bleeding risk.
What Are the Risks and Benefits of the Watchman Procedure for Afib
WATCHMAN Procedure Risks and Benefits for Afib
Benefits:
- Stroke Risk Reduction: WATCHMAN implant significantly lowers stroke risk in AFib, up to 54% reduction in studies.
- Blood Thinner Reduction: WATCHMAN can decrease/eliminate blood thinner use, reducing bleeding risk linked to them.
- Minimally Invasive: Swift, less than an hour procedure, involving catheter placement of WATCHMAN device.
Risks:
- Procedure Complications: WATCHMAN procedure carries risks like bleeding, infection, blood vessel damage, and clot formation.
Individual risk-benefit analysis should occur with healthcare professional, tailored to medical history and condition.
How Does Catheter Ablation Work to Treat Afib
Catheter ablation, a minimally invasive procedure, treats irregular heartbeats (arrhythmias) like atrial fibrillation (AFib). Flexible catheters are guided through blood vessels to the heart to record its electrical activity and locate the arrhythmia source.
Once identified, the catheter delivers energy to create scar tissue, disrupting abnormal electrical signals causing AFib and promoting a regular heartbeat. This procedure is effective for paroxysmal AFib, where symptoms are intermittent.
Around 3 out of 4 patients achieve a normal heart rhythm after one ablation; additional treatment helps others. While generally safe, minor bleeding or infection may occur at the insertion site. Some experience new heart flutter post-procedure.
Treatment success varies with age and heart conditions. Consulting a healthcare professional is crucial to determine suitable treatment.
What Lifestyle Changes Can Help Manage Afib Symptoms
Lifestyle shifts effectively alleviate atrial fibrillation (AFib) symptoms. Consider these strategies:
- Diet: Embrace heart-healthy choices like fresh produce, lean meats, and limited salt.
- Exercise: Regular physical activity deters complications and benefits mental well-being.
- Stress control: Employ relaxation techniques like deep breathing and meditation to counter stress.
- Weight loss: Even a modest 10% weight reduction can alleviate AFib frequency and severity.
- Quit smoking: Halting smoking mitigates heart disease and stroke risks, aiding AFib symptoms.
- Alcohol and caffeine: Reduce or avoid these substances to prevent AFib triggers.
Note that tailored AFib treatment hinges on individual factors. Consulting a healthcare professional is advised for guidance.
