SouthCrest surgeon is mending hearts  

Atrial fibrillation is the most common heart arrhythmia affecting patients today. With more than 5.1 million Americans diagnosed with atrial fibrillation, you or a family member may have experienced its symptoms. That is why, especially as we age, it is critical to get all of the facts on atrial fibrillation. “Success rates for the treatment of atrial fibrillation are fairly high for any patient, but of course the success rates are even higher when treating a patient who has just developed A-fib, rather than one who has gone undiagnosed for a long period of time,” says David Miller, D.O., a board-certified cardiothoracic and vascular surgeon and department chair for Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery at SouthCrest Hospital.   

What is Atrial Fibrillation?

Atrial fibrillation is when the two small upper chambers of the heart (the atria) quiver, or fibrillate, instead of beating in a strong, steady rhythm. The lower parts of the heart (ventricles) may then beat fast and without a regular rhythm. Atrial fibrillation is a dangerous condition because it can increase the risk of stroke. The quivering of the atria can cause blood to collect, or pool, which is the environment in which clots are likely to develop. If a clot develops, the heart can pump the clot into the bloodstream where it will travel to the brain, causing a stroke.  Fifteen percent of people with atrial fibrillation fall victim to strokes.

 What causes Atrial Fibrillation?

As we get older, our chances of developing atrial fibrillation increase.  Three to five percent of people over the age of 65 develop atrial fibrillation.  However, there is more to this disease than age. Knowing the causes is a step in the right direction.  Common causes of atrial fibrillation include:

• High blood pressure
• Heart attack
• Abnormal heart valves
• Coronary artery disease (CAD)
• Congenital heart defect
• Excessive consumption of stimulants such as caffeine, medications, tobacco, or alcohol
• Sleep apnea
• Previous heart surgeries

Signs and symptoms:

• Chest pain
• Shortness of breath
• Lightheadedness
• Confusion
• Weakness
• Decreased blood pressure

Diagnosing A-Fib:

Diagnosing atrial fibrillation involves your physician taking a thorough past health assessment, performing a physical exam and ordering several key tests. The best way to determine if you have atrial fibrillation is to have an electrocardiogram. This test checks for problems with the heart’s electrical activity. Other tests your physician may order include chest x-rays, lab tests and an echocardiogram. Once diagnosed, treatment is just a step away.  

Treatment: 

Treating atrial fibrillation does not have to be extremely invasive or overwhelming. In some cases medications are sufficient to treat a-fib. However, many sufferers have been found to be intolerant to medication or find that after taking medication, the condition never fully goes away.  “There is no question that surgery is usually the best way to treat atrial fibrillation,” says Dr. Miller. “However, there are now surgery options that are minimally invasive with positive and successful recovery rates.”

“The TT Maze procedure is a tissue ablation surgery designed to block abnormal electrical impulses associated with atrial fibrillation,” said Dr. Miller. “The surgery is done without a large chest incision, without the heart-lung machine, and without stopping the heart. It is achieved through small port incisions on the beating heart. This procedure is much less invasive and much easier to recover from than other heart surgeries of the past.”  Dr. Miller would know; his surgical expertise is nationally recognized for beating heart surgery, complex cardiac valve repairs and endovascular treatment of aneurysms.  Dr. Miller has been a major contributor to the recognition of SouthCrest Hospital’s Heart Hospital.