Atrial Fibrillation & Treatment

Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center recently received the American College of Cardiology’s (ACC) Chest Pain Center Accreditation and was recognized as the first facility in Louisiana to be awarded their Atrial Fibrillation (AFib) Accreditation after a rigorous onsite evaluation of the healthcare team’s ability to evaluate, diagnose and treat patients experiencing a variety of heart complications. Learn more.

 

Get Your Heart and Life Back in Rhythm

Do you sometimes feel a pounding or fluttering in your chest or like your heart just skipped a beat? Are you easily fatigued, with sudden light-headedness or shortness of breath? These could be signs of atrial fibrillation (AFib), an irregular heartbeat that causes poor blood flow to the body. Left untreated, AFib can increase your risk for stroke and serious heart-related complications.

At Our Lady of the Lake, our board-certified electrophysiologists (EPs) offer the most advanced options available to diagnose and treat atrial fibrillation and other heart rhythm issues. We were the first medical center in Louisiana to perform the innovative LARIAT® procedure, helping prevent stroke in patients who are unable to take medication. And we’re committed to bringing new solutions for long-time sufferers, including Convergent, which combines two proven therapies to help eliminate the problem.  

Don’t let an irregular heart rhythm affect your life and peace of mind. Call (225) 767-3900 to make your appointment today or find a specialist anytime online. 

 

About Atrial Fibrillation

Atrial fibrillation is the most common type of heart arrhythmia (irregular heart rhythm), particularly once a person reaches the age of 65 years (though it occurs earlier in many patients). This condition causes the upper chambers of the heart (atria) to beat quickly or in an abnormal pattern (fibrillation), causing poor blood flow to the body and unpleasant symptoms, like heart palpitations.   

Whether the condition is occasional or chronic, AFib can lead to serious, even life-threatening complications without proper care. 

 

AFib Diagnosis

To diagnose atrial fibrillation, our heart rhythm specialists will review your symptoms and medical history and, if needed, use one of our state-of-the-art electrophysiology labs to closely monitor your heart’s activity.

Common tests include:

• Electrocardiogram (ECG): This test uses small sensors (electrodes) attached to your chest and arms to record electrical signals as they travel through your heart. 

• Echocardiogram: In this noninvasive test, sound waves are used to produce a video image of your heart in motion.

• Holter Monitor: This portable ECG device is carried in your pocket or worn on a belt or shoulder strap. It records your heart’s rhythms for 24 hours or longer, giving your doctor a prolonged look at any problems.

• Zio Patch: This small, wire-free, water-resistant adhesive patch can record and store heart data for up to 14 days. It is equipped with a trigger button you can activate when experiencing symptoms suggestive of arrhythmia, which creates a digital time stamp for your doctor to assess.

• Blood Tests: These help your doctor rule out thyroid problems or other substances in your blood that may lead to atrial fibrillation.

• Chest X-ray: These images help your doctor see the condition of your lungs and heart and may help diagnose conditions other than AFib that may explain your signs and symptoms.

 

AFib Treatment

Should we detect AFib or another issue, our experts will work with you and your primary care physician to find the right treatment.

Depending on the type of arrhythmia and how serious it is, your personal plan may include: 

• Medications: Medication is often a good first treatment to help manage AFib, especially if you have mild symptoms.  

• Defibrillator or pacemaker: Implantable defibrillators and pacemakers are small, stopwatch-sized devices placed under the skin in the upper chest. They deliver electrical shocks or painless pacing therapy that can restore the heart’s rate and provide life-saving therapy. Your doctor will regularly check your device to adjust its programming and make sure it’s working properly.

• LARIAT® procedure: While medications like blood thinners can help reduce the risk of stroke, they’re not right for everyone. In those cases, we offer alternatives like the LARIAT procedure. This technique uses catheters to tie off the left appendage of the heart, a major source of blood clots that can lead to strokes in patients with AFib. Before this procedure, the tying-off process required open-heart surgery. This minimally invasive option helps prevent strokes with less pain, fewer complications and faster recovery.  

Whenever possible, electrophysiologists at Our Lady of the Lake perform ablation using the Sensei X Robotic Catheter System. This sophisticated platform integrates advanced levels of 3D catheter control with 3D visualization, which often means better precision and results. 

• Radiofrequency (RF) ablation: This minimally invasive catheter approach delivers radiofrequency energy to destroy the abnormal electrical paths in the heart. A thin, flexible wire, called a catheter, is threaded into a vein in your groin and up into your heart. Electrodes on the end of the catheter create a 3D map of the heart, allowing your doctor to pinpoint the tissue causing the abnormal patterns. The catheter then sends mild, painless radio waves to treat those small areas, restoring your regular rhythm. RF ablation is the most common curative treatment worldwide for AFib.

• Cryoablation: This innovative technique uses cold energy to freeze small areas of heart tissue to fix irregular rhythms. The process involves inserting a special balloon catheter into a blood vessel to reach the heart and find the exact location of the disruptive activity. The balloon is then inflated with coolant and placed against the opening of the vein for several minutes. This seals the vein temporarily and halts the abnormal electrical signal there.

• Convergent procedure: Convergent combines the best of both traditional catheter and surgical ablation to restore normal heart rhythm for long-suffering AFib patients. The two-part surgery involves ablating inside and outside of the heart. First, a cardiac surgeon makes three small abdominal incisions to send a video-scope and catheter to the back of your heart. The surgeon uses radiofrequency to create scar tissue that stops the electrical activity causing your AFib. Then, an electrophysiologist threads a catheter through your groin to reach the inside of the heart and uses liquid nitrogen to freeze areas that are triggering abnormal electrical signals.