Atrial Fibrillation Ablation FAQs
Contents:
Biography
Dr Oliver Segal qualified from King's College Hospital, London in 1995 and trained in cardiac electrophysiology and device implantation at St Mary's and St George's Hospitals in London. In 2004 he won 1st prize in the prestigious Heart Rhythm Society Young Investigator Award for Clinical Research in San Francisco, USA for his work on ventricular tachycardia which he undertook at the National Heart & Lung Institute, Imperial College, London. He was then selected for and completed a fellowship in Pacing and Electrophysiology at Professor George Klein's world famous laboratory in London, Ontario, Canada
Dr Segal is a Consultant Cardiologist at The Heart Hospital, University College London Hospital and The Harley Street Clinic hospitals, London. He has been practising electrophysiology for 10 years, and has performed over 1500 ablations and over 800 device implantation procedures, including pacemakers, defibrillators (ICDs), biventricular pacemakers and left atrial appendage occlusion devices (Watchman). He has published widely on all aspects of arrhythmias and has presented his work at numerous national and international conferences. His special interests include atrial fibrillation, ventricular tachycardia, ablation and cardiac resynchronisation therapy.
Articles written by Dr Oliver Segal
Complications from Catheter Ablation for Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation (PAF)
Regardless of how good catheter ablation is as a treatment for atrial fibrillation, every treatment approach has its set of potential complications. As with all surgical approaches, complication rates are related to surgical skill, experience and the selected method. Although complication rates are low, some complications are more serious than others.
What are the Treatments for Atrial Fibrillation (AF)?
Treatments for Atrial Fibrillation (AF)
Catheter ablation for AF is usually the preferred approach and this involves pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) to insulate the heart from erratic electrical activity. This article explains the latest medical approaches for treating paroxysmal atrial fibrillation including the drugs and types of interventional procedures.
What is Atrial Fibrillation (AF)?
Atrial fibrillation is caused as heart muscle cells in the atria (the top 2 chambers of the heart) age, they behave increasingly abnormally in conducting electricity. Much like our skin looks different in our 60s, 70s and 80s, the tissue of the heart ages too. Rather than smooth ripples of electricity conducting through the tissue, electrical chaos develops. This chaos means that the heart stops beating in a regular way and becomes much less efficient.
UK's Heart Experts - A Personal Approach to Treating Heart Conditions
Dr Oliver Segal, Consultant Cardiologist explains the importance of cardiac electrophysiology and how technology combined with effective treatments now provide a cure for many patients.
One of the major recent discoveries in drug development may not even be known by most people. We now have access to a number of drugs which are replacing warfarin for the first time in 50 years for the prevention of stroke.
Atrial Flutter Ablation FAQs
Who can have Ablation for Atrial Flutter?
Almost anyone can undergo ablation for typical atrial flutter. Patients must be able to lie flat without discomfort. Some patients may need to be able to tolerate a general anaesthetic. Most patients will have the ablation performed whilst taking blood thinning medications such as warfarin, usually for at least a month beforehand and so a previous history of bleeding may preclude this.
What are the Pros and Cons of Atrial Flutter Ablation?
Atrial Flutter - What is Atrial Flutter and how is it treated?
What is Atrial Flutter and How is Atrial Flutter Diagnosed?
The normal beating of the heart is controlled by electrical impulses. Atrial flutter is an abnormal electrical short circuit that results in a rapid or irregular heartbeat. It can occur in either the left or right atrium of the heart, which are the top 2 chambers in the heart. The atria pump blood to the larger ventricles below - to use a motoring analogy, they are bit a like fuel injectors or carburetors.
Laser Balloon Ablation FAQs
Laser balloon ablation is a specialised treatment for atrial fibrillation (irregular heart rhythms) It entails placing catheters inside the heart to ablate tissue using a laser guided by a camera. For many patients undergoing this procedure it will mean that they are able to come off their anti-coagulants, betablockers and anti-arrhythmic drugs.
Laser Balloon Ablation for Atrial Fibrillation
Atrial fibrillation is the most common heart rhythm disorder in the developed world and it is estimated that 1 million people in the UK have this condition. Atrial fibrillation, or AF for short, is the leading cause of stroke in the country and may also cause heart failure in some patients. It results from abnormal electrical impulses in the top chambers of the heart, the atria, which can lead to rapid, irregular palpitations, breathlessness, chest pain, light-headedness and tiredness. AF increases with age and is very frequently associated with high blood pressure but it can also occur in patients with no other medical problems.