Atrial fibrillation is the most common cardiac arrhythmia and involves the two upper chambers (atria) of the heart. Its name comes from the fibrillating (ie, quivering) of the heart muscles of the atria, instead of a coordinated contraction. It can often be identified by taking a pulse and observing that the heartbeats don’t occur at regular intervals. However, a stronger indicator of AF is the absence of P waves on an electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG), which are normally present when there is a coordinated atrial contraction at the beginning of each heart beat.[2] Risk increases with age, with 8% of people over 80 having AF. Atrial fibrillation ablation is procedure used to treat the abnormal heart rhythm. During this procedure, a thin wire (catheter) is positioned inside your heart near the pulmonary veins. Radio energy applied to the tip of this catheter is used to cauterize (ablate) the heart tissue around each pulmonary vein. This electrically “disconnects” the PV from the left atrium. As a result, the abnormal electrical signals from the PV can no longer reach the rest of the heart and trigger AF. Related Links: Kent Gleed, MD www.alegent.com Alegent Health Heart & Vascular Specialists www.alegent.com Cardiology Blog www.alegent.com Alegent Health Podcast #27 Heart Palpitations www.alegent.com Alegent Health Clinic www.alegent.com
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 