Atrial fibrillation is the rapid and irregular beating of the atria, the upper chambers of the heart. It is one of the most common rhythm disorders. The risk of developing atrial fibrillation is particularly high in patients over 65 years of age. During atrial fibrillation, the excitatory activity of the atria becomes discordant. The atria beat so rapidly that they begin to tremble (fibrillation) - so fast as to reach 300 to 400 beats per minute. Electric waves have the same erratic activity that happens when you drop a handful of pebbles into a quiet pond. This confusion of warnings in the upper chambers of the heart causes the lower chambers, namely the ventricles, to work irregularly. Therefore, the pulse is sometimes fast, sometimes slow, full in some beats and weak in some beats.
What are the risk factors for atrial fibrillation?
Atrial fibrillation is one of the most common rhythm disorders encountered in the clinic. Structural heart diseases such as rheumatic heart disease, hypertension, and heart failure are important risk factors for the development of atrial fibrillation. >
I have atrial fibrillation, what are my treatment options?
Appropriate drug therapy is tried first in the treatment of atrial fibrillation. Your drug treatment is tried by changing the atrial fibrillation drugs you use gradually. If your atrial fibrillation does not enter the desired regular form and becomes intolerable despite the drug treatment given, electrical cardioversion, which we call shock therapy, is performed by putting you to sleep.
Here, it is aimed to regulate the irregular stimulus current in the heart by applying a low-power and short-term electric current to the heart.
Is it possible to provide sinus rhythm in patients with atrial fibrillation?
Medication with treatment; A group of drugs is particularly successful in restoring sinus rhythm in patients with new atrial fibrillation. The success rate decreases with the length of the AF period and the presence of an additional concomitant heart disease.
Angiographic means; inactivation of certain conduction pathways in the heart with a method called "catheter ablation" in angio and It can be tried in the most afflicted AF cases, especially if there is no other concomitant heart disease.
With surgery; Normal sinus rhythm is established by deactivating the cardiac conduction system that causes arrhythmia.
What is the most feared side effect of atrial fibrillation?
The most important thing in a patient with heart rhythm disorder and diagnosed with atrial fibrillation And the feared side effect is that it paves the way for the formation of clots in the heart and these clots break off and go to different parts of the body (especially the brain), causing serious problems.
What kind of treatment should be followed in ventricular rhythm disorders?
Rapid heartbeats originating from the ventricles are life-threatening and require rapid correction. Electrical cardioversion, which we call shock therapy within minutes, is essential. In addition to the classic and large models of defibrillator devices that can be carried out of the body, modern models that can be carried in the patient's bag or pocket have also been used.
Which devices other than pacemakers can be used in rhythm disorders?
Today, ICD ( implantable cardioverter defibrillator) has an important place in the treatment of arrhythmia as well as pacemakers called pacemakers. ICD devices, like pacemakers, are placed under the skin below the right or left (preferably left) collarbone. The wires coming out of the device are placed in certain places in the heart and the ICD is activated.
Composed of an advanced computer program and a generator that creates a current, this system not only accelerates the slow rhythm like a pacemaker, but also intervenes in the fast-paced heart to bring it into a regular rhythm. br>
For your questions about atrial fibrillation, you can consult the expert team of Grup Florence Nightingale Hospitals. You can reach our expert team by using the contact form or by calling 444 0436.
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