A-Fib.com Adds Hybrid Surgery/Ablation to Treatments Topics for Arrhythmia Patients

MALIBU, Calif. - March 6, 2014 - PRLog -- Steve S. Ryan, publisher of the non-profit Atrial Fibrillation: Resources for Patients, A-Fib.com, a popular patient education website, announces the addition of the Hybrid Surgery/Ablation approach to the discussion topics of surgical treatments including the Cox-Maze and Mini-Maze surgeries. The Hybrid is a minimally invasive treatment approach in which a surgeon and a cardiac electrophysiologist team up to work together on the same patient in a single procedure. The genius of the Hybrid approach seems to be its complementary nature: the surgeon works on the outside the heart and the electrophysiologist (EP) on the inside of the heart. The combination addresses the limitations of each discipline’s individual approaches.

Similar multidisciplinary ablation techniques are called ‘hybrid ablation technique’, ‘convergence process’, ‘Convergent Maze Procedure’ and ‘Convergent Ablation'. Atrial Fibrillation (A-Fib) is the most common cardiac arrhythmia (abnormal heart rhythm) seen by physicians. It's estimated that 3 million in the US have A-Fib.  It is one of the most under treated heart rhythm disorders in America and accounts for about one-third of hospital admissions. A-Fib Fact sheet available online at http://beatyoura-fib.com/A-Fib_Fact_Sheet.html

The Hybrid Surgery/Ablation can be an effective option for highly symptomatic patients with persistent atrial fibrillation and longstanding persistent atrial fibrillation who have failed one or two catheter ablations, for someone with a significantly enlarged left atrium, or for someone who is morbidly obese (making it difficult to create imaging maps necessary for catheter ablations).

Relatively new with little long-term research or history of patient tracking, Dr. Hugh Calkins of Johns Hopkins Hospital writes about the Hybrid: “It is clear that more research is needed…a much larger, multicenter trial of ‘hybrid AF ablation’ that targets a population of patients with long-standing persistent AF."

Steve S. Ryan, PhD, author and publisher of Atrial Fibrillation: Resources for Patients points out “Patients should keep in mind that Hybrid surgery, though called “minimally invasive,” is still major heart surgery. It is invasive, traumatic, complicated, requires considerable surgical skills and experience, and is potentially risky.

Regarding availability, Dr. Calkins points out, "It’s extremely rare to have tremendous expertise with catheter ablation and surgical A-Fib ablation at the same institution. Most centers are expert at one or the other." Dr. Ryan adds, this will limit the number of facilities offering the Hybrid Surgery/Ablation approach, making it harder for patients to access this treatment choice. (To the A-Fib.com Directory of Doctors and Facilities, Dr. Ryan added a list of Centers Performing the Hybrid Surgery/Ablation procedure.)

To read more go to A-Fib.com'/Treatments http://tinyurl.com/hybridsurgeryablation.

About A-Fib.com and the Publisher
Dr. Steve Ryan, PhD, is a former A-Fib patient, a noted healthcare educator and advocate for patients suffering from the heart condition Atrial Fibrillation. In 2002, Dr. Ryan started Atrial Fibrillation: Resources for Patients (www.A-Fib.com) a source of independent, well-researched information on current and emerging treatments, resources and medical research, written in plain language for patients and their families.

Every month thousands visit A-Fib.com seeking hope and guidance. Healthcare professionals and groups around the world refer their patients to www.A-Fib.com. He is also author of Beat Your A-Fib: The Essential Guide to Finding Your Cure", from A-Fib, Inc., 2012, softcover $32.95. Available at Amazon.com, other online booksellers and the author's book site, www.BeatYourA-Fib.com.

Dr. Ryan earned his Ph.D. in Educational Communications from the Ohio State University and for many years taught film and television courses at the college level. He and his wife, Patti, live in Malibu, California. For a more detailed background, see Steve S. Ryan, PhD on LinkedIn.

Online Media Kit at http://a-fib.com/media-room/