1. Listen to Your Heartbeat
Atrial fibrillation is an irregular heartbeat or arrhythmia in the upper chambers of the heart called the atria. Electrical impulses to the lower chambers of the heart or ventricles are scattered rather than traveling at a regular interval. Atrial fibrillation makes the heart beat faster than normal increasing the risk of stroke, congestive heart failure and death. Atrial fibrillation surgery attempts to regulate the heart rate, restore a normal sinus rhythm, lessen the chance of a stroke and prevent blood clots.
2. Cause and Effect
A family history of atrial fibrillation and getting older are two known causes of this condition. As you age, scarring occurs on the atria due to wear and tear. Atrial fibrillation can lead to heart failure, infection, high blood pressure, thyroid disorders and blood clots in the lungs. Symptoms include dizziness; shortness of breath, your heart races, your chest tightens. It is possible not to show any signs at all and still have atrial fibrillation.
3. Confirming the DX
Listening to your heart with a stethoscope can help your doctor determine if you have an irregular heartbeat. Other tests are electrocardiograms, a Hoiter monitor, an event monitor, chest x-ray and blood tests. Your doctor outlines a course of treatment to try to restore your heartbeat back to normal. Exchanging bad habits for a healthier lifestyle and adding medications like blood thinners, beta-blockers and anti-arrhythmia medicine are non-surgical treatments. If these don't work and your arrhythmia worsens, then atrial fibrillation surgery is a possibility.
4. Follow the MAZE
Before surgery, your doctor does a physical exam and studies your medical history to determine the best course of treatment. If your atrial fibrillation is not constant, then you can have an endoscopic or minimally invasive procedure. The pulmonary vein is isolated and the left atrial appendage is removed. Microwave or radio frequency energy is used to create scar tissue on the heart. This scar tissue blocks the extra impulses and restores a regular heart rhythm. In the MAZE procedure, cuts are made in both chambers of the atria that create a path for the electrical impulses from the atria to the ventricle.
5. Beating to a New Rhythm
Depending on the type of atrial fibrillation surgery performed, your hospital stay ranges from two to three days or five to seven days. You are kept in ICU for a couple of days for open heart surgery and then moved to a regular room for monitoring. Recovery is usually six to eight weeks. Treatment includes medications and follow up visits. You should be back to normal after six months. The success rate is very high for the MAZE procedure.
