Hybrid ablation is an emerging treatment for patients with persistent and longstanding persistent atrial fibrillation. It is a dual approach, in which an electrophysiologist ablates from inside the heart and the cardiac surgeon ablates on the outside the heart. Dr. James Edgerton, a cardiac surgeon at The Heart Hospital Baylor Plano in Texas, who spoke …
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Up to 30% of patients could have very late recurrence of atrial fibrillation after catheter ablation, according to research highlighted at the recent Boston AF Symposium. Very late recurrence, which is when atrial fibrillation resumes more than one year after ablation, may be the result of age, gender, type of afib, and existence of other …
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At the recent Boston AF Symposium, investigators of the STOP AF clinical trial, which investigated the effectiveness and safety of Medtronic’s Arctic Front Cardiac CryoAblation Catheter system, showed that electrophysiologists who are more experienced with the device had better success rates and no major complications compared to those who had performed just one or two …
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Today's featured story comes from Boston Atrial Fibrillation Symposium where we talked with Dr. Pierre Jais about new 5-year catheter ablation results that his team at Bordeaux has just published. One-third of these patients had persistent or longstanding persistent atrial fibrillation. These results have been described in the media as "sobering", but hear Dr. Jais …
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StopAfib.org will participate in the National Stroke Association's first annual Virtual Health Fair on Wednesday, January 19, 2011. Learn more now about this free online event and how to register. The Virtual Health Fair is open to anyone interested in stroke prevention and recovery. This event will be like a local health fair – except …
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StopAfib.org has published the 2010 Most Popular Atrial Fibrillation News Stories and Videos List. Stroke prevention topped the list and included stories about warfarin (Coumadin) and alternatives such as dabigatran (Pradaxa) and rivaroxaban (Xarelto). Other popular topics included the new European atrial fibrillation guidelines, new antiarrhythmic medications, updates on catheter ablation and afib surgery, and …
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The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the Medtronic Arctic Front® Cardiac CryoAblation Catheter system for the treatment of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation. This is the first cryo (freezing) catheter ablation system to receive approval in the US. Approval was based on the results of the STOP AF (Sustained Treatment of Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation) …
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In this video, Dr. Edgerton consults with an afib patient and caregiver about such atrial fibrillation treatment options as medication, cardioversion, catheter ablation, Cox maze surgery, and the minimally invasive (mini maze) surgical procedure. Watch the video at: Dr. James R. Edgerton Discusses Treatment Options with an Atrial Fibrillation Patient and Caregiver - Video
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In this video, Dr. Douglas L. Packer of the Mayo Clinic provides details about the landmark CABANA Trial comparing Catheter Ablation to Antiarrhythmic Drugs for Atrial Fibrillation. Dr. Packer is the Lead Investigator for the CABANA Trial. Watch the video, and learn more, at: Dr. Douglas L. Packer on the CABANA Trial comparing Catheter Ablation to …
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In late breaking clinical trials presented today at the American Heart Association Scientific Sessions, results of the ROCKET AF trial indicated that in an atrial fibrillation patient population that was at a very high risk of stroke, rivaroxaban (Xarelto) was as good as warfarin at preventing strokes. Learn more at: Rivaroxaban comparable to warfarin in …
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