Dear Doctor:
Who is a candidate for ablation therapy, especially pulmonary vein ablation or microwave ablation? I have had a fib for 3 years and am on Tikosyn, Lanoxin and Coumadin which controls my a fib but I would like to stop taking all these pills. I've read a lot about ablation and would like to have this procedure done.
Answer:
There are many treatment options for patients with atrial fibrillation. The first line therapies include medications and cardioversion. When these therapies fail or are not tolerated, other options include pulmonary vein isolation, ablation with a pacemaker, and surgical procedures, such as the Maze procedure, radiofrequency ablation, cryotherapy and microwave technology. To determine if you are a candidate for any of these therapies, you need to be evaluated by an electrophysiologist (a cardiologist who specializes in abnormal heart rhythms).
For more information on atrial fibrillation and it's treatments, see the Center for Atrial Fibrillation website
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