Atrial Fibrillation Ablation
When a patient experiences chronic or persistent atrial fibrillation (AF), catheter ablation is an effective, minimally invasive treatment. At Pacific Rim Electrophysiology, we are innovators in arrhythmia treatment and have developed a unique atrial fibrillation treatment protocol offered in Bangkok, Thailand, that improves upon the standard approach.
You’re Our Priority
For more information on atrial fibrillation ablation, request a consultation at the office of Pacific Rim Electrophysiology using our online form. Recognized as international leaders in arrhythmia treatment and research, we serve patients from around the world.
Meet Doctor Nademanee
An innovator of advanced cardiac arrhythmia treatments that have attracted the attention of specialists and patients worldwide.
Pacific Rim’s Arrhythmia Treatment Protocol
When patients are unable to control their atrial arrhythmias with lifestyle changes or medication, we provide the option of ablation for arrhythmia control. The process does not incorporate pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) rather the ablation is performed using the CFAE (complex fractionated atrial electrogram) approach. Pioneered by our director, Dr. Koonlawee Nademanee, CFAE ablation targets specific electrograms (mapping correlations) as points to ablate.
Understanding Ablation for Atrial Fibrillation
During ablation, a thin wire called a catheter is used to access the left atrium through an entry point in the groin. 3D mapping is used along with CFAE to assist the operator in site detection. Once the sites are located, radiofrequency is delivered through the catheter to ablate the areas that are acting as conduits for the arrhythmia. The goal of destroying these areas is to reorganize the abnormal signals into a more rhythmic pattern, resulting in normal sinus rhythm for the patient.
Risks of AF Ablation
Atrial arrhythmia ablation involves rare but serious risks. In order to ablate atrial arrhythmias, the left atrium must be accessed by crossing the septum with a very fine needle. On rare occasions, this process can lead to cardiac tamponade, where the heart is unable to fill properly because of a build-up of blood or fluid between the myocardium (the muscle of the heart) and the pericardium (the sac that covers the heart).
In addition, the presence of atrial fibrillation increases the risk of stroke – before, during, and after the ablation. With that in mind, our pre- and post-procedure anti-coagulation protocols are designed individually based upon the existing risk factors and classification of atrial fibrillation.
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