| Name | Roy |
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| Location | Mandalay Bay, CA |
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| Age | 75 |
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| Diagnosed condition | Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation |
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| Years with condition | 14 |
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| Frequency of episodes | started once every few months, then increased to 3 times/week |
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| Duration of episodes | 2 hrs - 16 hrs |
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| Event preceding first AF | Triple By-Pass Surgery |
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| General health | High Blood Pressure under control w/meds, non-smoker, non-drinker |
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| Current state | Cured! |
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| Personal comments | After many years of suferring and tolerating the AF episodes -- always fearful of getting a stroke from clots that may form in the Atria, I finally decided to see a an electrophysiologist who was recommended by my cardiologist (I had read about their treatment of AF and asked for a referral).
AF is an electrical problem, so why go to a regular cardiologist --it's like getting a plumber rather than an electrician to fix an electrical problem. The cardiologists only prescribe medicines to try to control the AF episodes -- some with devastating side effects. This is not a cure for AF. Over the past 10 years, electrophysiologists (who are cardiologists that specialize in the treatment of electrical circuit problems in the heart) have perfected a cure for AF (especially with the help of new electronic machine technology).
The electrophysiologist I saw did a Catheter Ablation -- an outpatient procedure similar to an angiogram where he mapped the abnormal electrical pathways coming from the atrial chambers of the heart. Then, using a Radio Frequency (RF) catheter, he burned away the abnormal electrical pathways -- leaving only the single Sinus Node electrical pathway which maintains the normal, regular heartbeat. I felt no pain during this outpatient procedure and went home the same day. It is now about nine months since the procedure and I have had no AF episodes. They consider it a cure if one year goes by without an episode of AF -- so far so good.
Be aware that the new technology uses what they call "focal point mapping and ablation" or "Pulmonary Vein Ablation" techniques. Older technologies didn't use these procedures, which now allow for crossing over to the left atrial chamber where most of the problem occurs. The cure rate is about 80 to 90 percent.
I know of two places that specialize in this new procedure (although I'm sure there are more now that electrophysiologists all over the world are getting trained in it). They are the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio and Dr. Nademanee in California. Dr. Nademanee, who has perfected this procedure over the last 10 years, was my physician. He is world renowned in this field and has doctors from all over the world coming to learn his RF Ablation procedure. Do a Google search of "Dr. Nademanee". You'll see quite a bit of information about him and AF treatment in general. |
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| Check list |  acebutolol | amiodarone (cordarone,pacerone) | anisindione (miradon) | | atenolol (tenormin) |  aspirin | azimilide | | bepridil | betaxolol | bisoprolol (monocor,emconcor) | | bretylium | bucindolol | carvedilol | | cibenzoline | dicumarol | digitoxin | | digoxin (lanoxin) | diltiazem (cardizem) | diphenylhydantoin | | disopyramide (norpace) | dofetilide (tikosyn) | dronedarone | | encainide | esmolol (brevibloc) | ersentilide | | flecainide (tambocor) | gallopamil | ibutilide (corvert) | | lidocaine | mibefradil | metoprolol (lopressor,toprol xl) | | mexiletine | moricizine | nadolol | | phenytoin | procainamide | propafanone (rythmol) | | propranolol (inderal) | quinapril (accupril) | quinidine (quinaglute) | | sotalol (betapace) | tedisamil | timolol | | tocainide | trandolapril (mavik) | valsartan (diovan) | | verapamil (calan,isoptin) | warfarin (coumadin) | asthma | | diabetes | GERD/acid reflux | hypertension | | hypotension | hyperthyroidism | hypothyroidism | | adrenergic | vagal | familial | | idiopathic/lone | paroxysmal | permanent/chronic | | atrial flutter | cardiomyopathy | CHF | | PAC | PVC | SVT | | syncope | bradycardia | tachycardia | | heart block | myocardial infarction | rheumatic heart diease | | sick sinus syndrome | stroke | WPW | | electrical cardioversion | defibrillator | pacemaker | | ablation | bypass | maze | | Male | Female | |
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