Atrial fibrillation, with Ejection Fraction of 24%

[hikingmaniac]

Hello I'm a 42 year old male, I was diagnosed as Atrial fibrillation, I'm getting ECG done every time I visit the doctors office, my ECHO came out with severely dilated left atrium, my ejection fraction was 24%, I'm on various medication, losartin potassium, warfarin, amlodipine, amiodarone, metoprolo and furosemide... I had a cardioversion procedure on June 27, 2011 but a week ago, we found out it went back, so we are planning on doing another cardioversion in 1.5 months. What else can I do without pacemaker installed?

[hikingmaniac]

My ventricle rate is 600-800, my cadiologist says that it's going so fast it's like vibration.

Due to Amiodarone I'm having a heavy memory losses, I can't remember co-workers names, this past Monday I couldn't remember how to get home...

[kyomagi]

I dont know, my dad who is 68 has no blockages, but had AFIB and a EF of 25ish% I dont know if it was caused by his high BP or what, but get that afib and see where it goes from there.  

But i am no doctor, always always ask for a second opinion

[Jerry_NJ]

The low EF would concern me more than the AFib, given the AFib symptoms are controllable. I have permanent AFib and take beta blocker and calcium channel blocker meds to lower my ventricle rate to around 80 at rest.  My EF is 60%, so that's not a problem, and I too have an enlarged atrium, left side.  The theory is that my now repaired leaky mitral valve caused the enlargement.  To the point, my cardiologist and EP are not supporting trying an ablation due to the fact I respond reasonably to "rate control" and anticoagulant.  I am also up in years.  

Best, maybe an ablation or other invasive procedure will stop the AFib, but I don't think it will improve the EF.  This is a guess, I really do not that is the case.

[itdood]

There's a new "5 box maze" procedure that's showing promising results for *persistent" afib.  If you haven't had an ablation yet you might want to consider that as-well, if you're a candidate.

But I'm not so sure with the dilated left atrium, that might be a complication.  Any reason given why it got stretched out?

[claytex]

I had a heart ablation done at austin heart hospital in austin texas in july of 2010 and have not had afib since... I had dealt with it for about 12 years ...had 12-15 electro cardioversions.......by the way the amiodarone that your one is some bad stuff in my opinion... can cause some not so good side effects... claytex