Catheter (Radiofrequency) Ablation Therapy
In order for the heart to beat, it receives electrical stimulation or signals that starts in the atria or upper chambers of the heart and then travel down to the ventricles or lower chambers of the heart. Atrial fibrillation is defined as chaotic or abnormal electrical signals or pathways in the atria resulting in an irregular heartbeat. The irregular heartbeat does not allow the atria to contract or squeeze normally, rather the atria quiver decreasing the amount of blood ejected from the heart with each heartbeat.
Catheter (radiofrequency) ablation is a non-surgical treatment option for atrial fibrillation that locates and destroys abnormal electrical pathways in the heart that cause atrial fibrillation. Patients undergoing catheter (radiofrequency) ablation are diagnosed and treated in the electrophysiology laboratory by specially trained cardiologists called electrophysiologists, physicians who focus on the electrical or rhythm system of the heart. Jeffrey J. Goldberger, MD is the medical director for the Center for Atrial Fibrillation and the Northwestern Memorial Hospital electrophysiology laboratory. Dr. Goldberger and his college, Alan H. Kadish, MD are internationally recognized electrophysiologists that have pioneered many of the electrophysiology procedures used today to treat atrial fibrillation.
Because atrial fibrillation is a complex disease, the Center for Atrial Fibrillation offers a multidisciplinary approach to the diagnosis and treatment of patients with atrial fibrillation. After carefully reviewing the patient's medical history and cardiac evaluation, physicians discuss their recommendations with the patient and the patient's referring physician and/or cardiologist. Incorporating the patient's referring physician and/or cardiologist into the delivery of care, essentially expanding the "team approach" concept, is highly endorsed and practiced by the Center for Atrial Fibrillation.
Advanced imaging, mapping, and ablation energy sources are used at the Center for Atrial Fibrillation to optimize results of the catheter (radiofrequency) ablation procedure. The team of cardiac electrophysiologists provides state-of-the-art care that results in long term cure from atrial fibrillation in the majority of patients. Catheter (radiofrequency) ablation provides the first-line curative approach for patients with atrial fibrillation.
Contact
For more information regarding catheter (radiofrequency) ablation and
for treatments available at the Center for Atrial Fibrillation, call
the Bluhm Cardiovascular Institute at (866) 662-8467, or request an appointment online.
