Cardiac Services

Cardiothoracic Surgery Procedures

Atrial Fibrillation

Figure 8

More than a hundred surgical procedures for atrial fibrillation have been completed at Rhode Island Hospital since 2003.

Atrial fibrillation affects approximately two million people in the United States. Its occurrence increases with age and is associated with valvular heart disease. Atrial fibrillation is also associated with increased morbidity, risk of bleeding from blood thinning medication, stroke and it may shorten life expectancy.

We treat atrial fibrillation with cryoblation and bipolar radio frequency ablation, both with good success (Figure 8). The goal of this procedure is to convert atrial fibrillation to a normal sinus rhythm, thus allowing better heart function without taking blood thinners.

Back