Spotlight On: Ablation Therapy for Atrial Fibrillation

How can I get my heart rhythm condition under control?

UVA's Srijoy Mahapatra, M.D. talks with Club Red this month about treatment options for a common condition known as atrial fibrillation.

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common heart rhythm disorder, affecting more than 2.2 million Americans. During what’s commonly called afib, the heart’s electrical circuitry malfunctions, causing the heart’s two upper chambers (atria) to quiver (fibrillate) and beat irregularly—usually too fast with too little pumping force. Read on to learn more about ablation therapy, one of many treatment options for atrial fibrillation.

What is ablation therapy? 

Ablation is designed to find the areas of the heart tissue that are causing the abnormal rhythm to occur. The physician looks at various areas within the top chambers of the heart to find the source of the irregular electrical impulses and then disconnects the abnormal electrical pathway by scarring the tissue. 

Who is a candidate for ablation therapy? 

Depending on your age, the seriousness of your condition and the cause of your AF, there are several treatment options, including medication. Patients who do not respond to drug therapy or who cannot tolerate the side effects of certain medicines may benefit from a catheter ablation. Surgical ablation may be considered for symptomatic AF patients who prefer a surgical approach and for those who have failed medications or a catheter ablation. “Women sometimes have an advantage with ablation procedures,” says Srijoy Mahapatra, M.D., a UVA cardiac electrophysiologist. Women are less likely than men to have had heart bypass surgery, and the procedure is typically most effective for patients who have not had bypass surgery. 

What is a catheter ablation? 

In catheter ablations, small catheters (tubes) are threaded through a vein in a patient’s leg and up to the heart. Hot or cold energy is then used to create scars (ablations). With this approach, the ablation procedure takes three to six hours and typically requires a one- to two-night hospital stay. 

How do surgical ablations differ from catheter ablations? 

With catheter ablations, doctors destroy the problem area from within the heart’s chamber. By contrast, during a surgical ablation, doctors destroy the problem area by treating the outside of the heart. “At UVA, our team combines the best of electrophysiology (the medical field focused on heart rhythms) and heart surgery,” says Mahapatra who teams up with heart surgeon Gorav Ailawadi, M.D., to treat AF. 

How many ablation procedures have UVA doctors performed? 

UVA’s Atrial Fibrillation Center has treated more than 1,500 patients since the center opened in late 2004. This level of experience ensures that you receive the most comprehensive, up-to-date evaluation and treatment for your specific condition. UVA provides a team approach to treating atrial fibrillation, with a team that includes electrophysiologists, nurse practitioners, physician assistants and research and educational coordinators, each of whom specializes in caring for AF patients.