Second Opinion

[octer]

I have recently been diagnosed with afib.  I am 53 yrs. old and otherwise in good health except for high blood pressure.  My stress test and ECG were normal in fact the test administrator said I was very "fit".  I exercise regulary, maintain a healthy weight and have never smoked.  I have been prescribed drug therapy from a local caridologist. I live in a small town.  I would like to be check out at a specialty cemter.  Can you tell me if University of Mich has a good center?  It is more convenient to me than Cleveland.

[CCF-M.D.-MJM]

Hello,

Michigan is a great cardiovascular center.  Request an appointment to meet with one of their electrophysiologists.

There are two approaches to treating atrial fibrillation.  Medical therapy and ablation.

If this is your first occurance of atrial fibrillation, the first step is usually anticoagulation and cardioversion (brief shock while you are sedated to bring you back to a normal rhythm).  At your age, if you have no other risk factors of stroke, aspirin is usually sufficient for anticoagulation.

If your heart rate is easily controlled and you are not having significant symptoms, medical management is probably enough.  However, if you think the symptoms of  interfering with you daily routine, atrial fibrillation ablation (called PVI or pulmonary vein isolation) is 70-80% effective at curing atrial fibrillation on first attempt, 80-90% on second attempt.

As always, we would love to meet you here in Cleveland.  We do between 2-5 PVI's per day in our lab--one of the highest volume centers in the world, if not the highest.  University of M. does the procedure as well, if it is indicated in your case.

Good luck.

[octer]

I have experience Afib before but thought it was due to menopause.  I always return to normal rhythm on my own.