All articles tagged with #catheter ablation
A new study suggests that blood clots in the brain, caused by heart surgery procedures like catheter ablation, may be responsible for migraines with visual auras, which could be linked to increased stroke risk, challenging previous beliefs that these symptoms were symptomless.
A 67-year-old man with a history of atrial flutter and recent atrial fibrillation (AFib) is considering a pulmonary vein ablation to treat his irregular heartbeat. Dr. Keith Roach advises that since the patient's symptoms are well-managed with medication and his stroke risk is reduced, there isn't a compelling need for an ablation, which carries a risk of side effects and is not always 100% effective. Ablation is generally recommended for those who cannot tolerate medication for symptom management.
A preliminary study presented at the American Academy of Neurology’s 75th Annual Meeting suggests that people with atrial fibrillation who undergo catheter ablation may have a lower risk of cognitive decline and dementia than those who only receive medication. Catheter ablation uses radiofrequency to destroy small areas of heart tissue that may be causing the abnormal heartbeat. The study involved 887 people with an average age of 75, and those who underwent catheter ablation were 36% less likely to develop cognitive impairment than those who only received medication. However, more research is needed to confirm the results.
Michigan attorney Geoffrey Fieger suffered a stroke after an elective procedure to deal with a minor heart arrhythmia. Complications with this type of procedure are generally low, but can include bleeding, infection, damage to the heart valves, and stroke. Stroke complications due to catheter ablation are rare and reportedly have a 0.3% risk of stroke. Fieger's prognosis varies on how severe the stroke was and how quickly he was treated. Recovery looks different for everyone.