AF patients are generally at a higher risk for stroke and thus may have to take anticoagulant medications, such as Coumadin or warfarin, to manage their afib-related stroke risk. With the FDA’s recent approval of AtriCure’s AtriClip device that is implanted during open heart surgery, afib patients and their doctors may now have another way to reduce stroke risk.

The AtriClip cuts off blood flow to the heart’s left atrial appendage (LAA), where an estimated 90% of afib-related blood clots form, thus decreasing stroke risk. AtriClip is the first left atrial appendage occlusion device to be approved in the U.S.

Other devices are in clinical trials, including Medtronic’s Cardioblate Closure LAA Occlusion device, AGA Medical’s Amplatzer Cardiac Plug, and Atritech’s Watchman.

Learn more at:

FDA Approves the AtriClip for Stroke Prevention in Patients with Atrial Fibrillation

Tags: Anticoagulation, Stroke, Study, Surgery by Mellanie
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Findings presented at Heart Rhythm 2010 showed that stopping atrial fibrillation—whether through medication, surgery, or in the case of this study, catheter ablation— could potentially prevent the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias and also reduce the risk of stroke and death.

Doctors John D. Day, MD, and T. Jared Bunch, MD, at Intermountain Medical Center in Salt Lake City, Utah, showed that successfully treating atrial fibrillation by catheter ablation could significantly reduce Alzheimer’s disease and strokes. If this is proven out in other studies, this could potentially change the treatment practices for atrial fibrillation patients such that staying in sinus rhythm becomes the goal. Read more at:

Stopping Atrial Fibrillation Could Reduce the Risk of Stroke and Alzheimer’s Disease — 6-10-10

Tags: Catheter ablation, Risk, Stroke, Study, Treatment by Mellanie
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Atrial fibrillation took center stage in a feature story in Tuesday’s Washington Post. The article not only looked at treatment for atrial fibrillation, but also at what afib does to patients. The atrial fibrillation experiences of Mellanie True Hills, founder of StopAfib.org, were included in this story.

Read more at:

Washington Post Highlights Afib: Atrial fibrillation is easy to find, but evidence on how best to treat it isn’t

Tags: Anticoagulation, Catheter ablation, General, Medication, Mellanie True Hills, Patient Stories, Resources, Risk, Stroke, Surgery, Symptoms, Treatment by Mellanie
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Doctors are trying to identify the characteristics that predict which patients aren’t likely to be successful with a catheter ablation for their atrial fibrillation. At a session at the recent Heart Rhythm Society annual meeting, some of the factors discussed included left atrial size, left atrial volume, left ventricle dysfunction (improper functioning of the left ventricle), time spent in afib, and extensive atrial fibrosis.

Read more:  Predictors of Atrial Fibrillation Catheter Ablation Success — Presentations from Heart Rhythm Society — 6/4/10

Tags: Anticoagulation, Catheter ablation, Inflammation, Medication, Risk, Stroke, Study, Treatment by Mellanie
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An important session at Heart Rhythm Society 2010 was “Medical Issues After Ablation for Atrial Fibrillation and Flutter.” It dealt with what constitutes success following catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation (afib) and atrial flutter, and which is more important, the medical definition or the patient’s definition.

Which definition is used can have implications for treatment following catheter ablation. This session explored those issues, including the blanking period, repeat ablations, monitoring for asymptomatic events, and anticoagulation to deal with stroke risk.

Read:  What is Catheter Ablation Success and What are the Implications

Tags: Anticoagulation, Catheter ablation, Cure, Medication, Risk, Stroke, Symptoms, Treatment by Mellanie
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In this video interview, Dr. Nassir Marrouche, Executive Director of the Comprehensive Arrhythmia Research and Management (CARMA) Center at the University of Utah Health System, discusses the findings he recently presented at the Heart Rhythm Society annual meeting in Denver. He discussed the intriguing way they are using MRI (magnetic resonance imaging), to personalize atrial fibrillation (AF) treatment by determining the degree of atrial fibrosis in the atrium to determine whether catheter ablation is likely to work. Since the extent of atrial fibrosis also correlates with stroke risk, this “staging” approach also can dictate whether anticoagulation is needed following the procedure.

The effectiveness of this Utah AF staging system will be tested through a multicenter clinical trial involving Cleveland Clinic, Mayo Clinic, the University of Pennsylvania, Loyola, CHU Bordeaux, and a number of other centers around the world.

Watch the video:

Interview with Dr. Nassir Marrouche on Personalized Atrial Fibrillation Treatment Through “Staging”

Tags: Anticoagulation, Audio/Video, Catheter ablation, Medication, Risk, Stroke, Study, Treatment by Mellanie
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At Heart Rhythm 2010 in Denver recently, a session on demographic factors influencing atrial fibrillation management and outcomes featured the following research findings:

• African Americans Have Less Risk Than Caucasians of Atrial Fibrillation After Bypass Surgery
• Blacks Have Lower Risk of Atrial Fibrillation After Age 60 Than Whites Despite Higher Risk Factors
• Women with Atrial Fibrillation May Need More Aggressive Anticoagulation Than Men to Avoid Stroke
• Women with Atrial Fibrillation Are Referred Less Often to AF Centers and Are Less Likely to Receive Aggressive Treatments

Read about these research findings at: Race and Gender Issues Influencing Atrial Fibrillation Management — News from Heart Rhythm 2010

Tags: Anticoagulation, Medication, Risk, Stroke, Study, Surgery, Treatment, Women by Mellanie
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At Heart Rhythm Society 2010, we saw intriguing new research into personalized afib treatment and stroke prevention that was presented by Dr. Nassir Marrouche and Dr. Marcos Daccarett of the Comprehensive Arrhythmia Research and Management (CARMA) Center at the University of Utah Health System.

They have developed a way, using MRI (magnetic resonance imaging), to personalize atrial fibrillation (AF) treatment by “staging”, which determines whether catheter ablation will likely stop the afib based on the degree of fibrosis in the atrium. The extent of atrial fibrosis also was found to correlate with stroke risk. The stage indicates appropriate catheter ablation treatment and whether anticoagulation is needed following the procedure. The researchers indicated that the best results come from intervening early into atrial fibrillation.

To further validate the effectiveness of the Utah AF staging system, they have initiated a multi-center clinical trial that will involve a number of centers worldwide, including Cleveland Clinic, Mayo Clinic, Loyola, the University of Pennsylvania, and CHU Bordeaux.

Read more:  Personalized Atrial Fibrillation Treatment Using New Method to “Stage” AF

Tags: Anticoagulation, Catheter ablation, Medication, Risk, Stroke, Study, Treatment by Mellanie
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One of the most interesting things about atrial fibrillation is how geography—the location where you grew up, where you live now, and even where you visit—can affect your risk of atrial fibrillation and stroke.

A fascinating map from the CDC (the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) dramatically illustrates which parts of the country had the highest rates of atrial fibrillation hospitalizations between 2000 and 2006. But that map’s “hot-spots” don’t exactly match the states known as the “Stroke Belt” and “Stroke Buckle” where stroke rates are highest. Why? What could be responsible for that?

Could it be related to environmental influences, such as steel mills, coal mines, or oil refining? Or could it be related to inflammation or molds? What are the factors related to the unusual patterns of hospitalizations and strokes? What are the geographic influences in your afib?

Read more:  Where Are the Biggest Risks in the U.S. for Atrial Fibrillation Hospitalizations and Strokes

Tags: Causes or Triggers, Family, Inflammation, Risk, Stroke, Study by Mellanie
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One of the most common questions we get centers around the use of anticoagulant drugs—either the brand drug, Coumadin, or the generic version, warfarin—and whether or not an atrial fibrillation patient should be on them. Anticoagulants decrease stroke risk, but can also increase bleeding risk. How do you sort it all out? It’s just as frustrating for our doctors as it is for us.

A new tool, called “HAS-BLED”, may help. Used in conjunction with CHADS2 scores, it can help doctors assess our risks and determine whether or not we should be on anticoagulants.

Read more about this new tool at:  New “HAS-BLED” Tool Identifies Those with Atrial Fibrillation at Risk for Bleeding From Coumadin or Warfarin

Tags: Anticoagulation, Medication, Prevention, Stroke, Treatment by Mellanie
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