Atrial Fibrillation (AFib) Support Group

Atrial fibrillation (AF or afib) is an abnormal heart rhythm (cardiac arrhythmia) which involves the two small, upper heart chambers (the atria). Heart beats in a normal heart begin after electricity generated in the atria by the sinoatrial node spread through the heart and cause contraction of the heart muscle and pumping of blood.

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jodelleknits 07/14/2012

My neighbor, who is about 84, is not a good candidate for an ablation for her afib. She has had adverse reactions to blood thinners, including Plavix. She has been discussing a new procedure with her doc at the Univ. of Washington in Seattle. They plan to tie off the little sac on the left side of the heart that is the culprit in causing most strokes if you have afib. That is where the blood pools and eventually can throw off clots when you are in afib. This would eliminate the need for blood thinners. Anyone heard of this?

Jody

pacyetep 07/14/2012

Atriclip is one way of occluding the left atrial appendage. petey

deleted_user 07/15/2012

The left atrial appendage often was removed during open heart surgery, like the Maize procedure as a prophylactic to prevent blood clots. It is now possible to perform the removal using the mini
Thorascopic approach. Maybe it is this new procedure you are referring to.

If I remember correctly Melanie True Hill had her left atrial appendage removed when she had her Maize procedure. Strangely with the removal of the appedage, there seems to be the loss of the sensation of thirst.
Please someone correct me ,if I don't remember this correctly

pacyetep 07/15/2012

She did have it removed. Some people think the LAA controls pressure in the heart... not sure.
petey

jodelleknits 07/15/2012

Thanks for the enlightenment. My neighbor says they will do the procedure with catheters, in much the same way as a catheter ablation is done. Perhaps doing it with the catheters is new???

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