Doctors & patients are saying about 'A-Fib.com'...
"A-Fib.com is a great web site for patients, that is unequaled by anything else out there."
Dr. Douglas L. Packer, MD, FHRS, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN
"Jill and I put you and your work in our prayers every night. What you do to help people through this [A-Fib] process is really incredible."
Jill and Steve Douglas, East Troy, WI
“I really appreciate all the information on your website as it allows me to be a better informed patient and to know what questions to ask my EP.
Faye Spencer, Boise, ID, April 2017
“I think your site has helped a lot of patients.”Dr. Hugh G. Calkins, MD Johns Hopkins,
Baltimore, MD
Yes! There Benefits from a Failed Ablation!
Your Ejection Fraction indicates the heart’s pumping strength
Even when the patient’s A-Fib has not been eliminated, there benefits from a catheter ablation
Research has shown that the intensity or duration A-Fib symptoms may lessen, and medications that were ineffective before the ablation may now work.
Heart Health Indicator: Ejection Fraction (EF)
A-Fib is a progressive disease that over time re-models and changes your heart. One of the remodeling effects of A-Fib is a reduction in the heart’s pumping ability (that’s why you might feel faint or dizzy during an A-Fib episode).
Your Ejection Fraction (EF), is a key indicator of heart health. Your EF is a percentage of blood that is pumped out of your heart by the left ventricle during each beat. A heathly heart has an EF between 50 to 75 percent;
An EF below 50% means your heart is no longer pumping efficiently, an EF of less than 35% means a seriously weakened heart.
‘Side’ Benefits to Catheter Ablation
In a meta-analysis of 26 A-Fib research studies, investigators found additional ‘side’ benefits to catheter ablation. The studies involved 1,838 A-Fib patients who had undergone a catheter ablation. Post-ablation follow-up averaged 23 months.
Left Ventricular EF: Follow-up data revealed a significant 13% improvement in left ventricular ejection fraction (EF).
More Patients Improved EF to Above 35%: In addition, there was a significant reduction in the number of patients who formerly had an ejection fraction of less than 35%, i.e., their EF ratio improved. (Might these ‘side’ benefits be attributed to an improvement in left ventricular EF?)
Reap Side Benefits from Each Ablation
A catheter ablation can profoundly change one’s life—even if you need a second ablation (or a third)—know that you may reap ‘side’ benefits from each ablation.
For more about your Ejection Fraction (EF), see my article, Catheter Ablation Benefits Your Heart’s Pumping Ability
