The Emory Atrial Fibrillation Program

Electrophysiology: Understanding Arrhythmias Diagnosing Arrhythmias Treating Arrhythmias The Emory Atrial Fibrillation Program Surgery for Atrial Fibrillation

Your One-Stop Solution to Atrial Fibrillation Care

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According to the American Heart Association (AHA), about two million Americans suffer from atrial fibrillation. This irregular heart rhythm results when multiple circuits of disorganized electrical activity in the top chambers of the heart (the atria) replace the organized electrical activity that is normally generated by the heart. The result is quivering of the atria instead of regular heartbeats.

Only a few years ago, people suffering from this common heart arrhythmia were told they would probably have to live with the problem. Today, however, an increasing number of people with atrial fibrillation can now be treated and cured, thanks to innovative therapies and procedures available through The Emory Heart & Vascular Center's Atrial Fibrillation Program. With sites at Emory University Hospital and Emory Crawford Long Hospital, it is the only comprehensive atrial fibrillation treatment program of its kind in Georgia.

Although not directly life threatening, atrial fibrillation often produces a fast, irregular, and ineffective heart rhythm that can cause a variety of symptoms. For many years, atrial fibrillation was thought to be a harmless condition, but it is now known that AF can contribute to additional heart problems over time, including heart failure. Most seriously, it raises the risk of stroke and atrial fibrillation patients are often placed on blood thinners along with other heart medications. Learn more about living with atrial fibrillation.

"Atrial fibrillation is by far the most common sustained arrhythmia we see and it creates a tremendous amount of symptoms and disability in patients," says Emory Heart & Vascular Center electrophysiologist Angel Leon, MD, Director of Cardiology at Emory Crawford Long Hospital. "By now being able to treat atrial fibrillation and potentially cure it, we can not only improve the quality of life for many patients, but reduce the number of medications they have to take and reduce trips to the hospital."

Specialized Services and Procedures

Patients who seek treatment for atrial fibrillaton at Emory have access to physicians and nurses who are experienced in a wide variety of tests and treatments, including:

• Warfarin (Coumadin) blood-thinner management
• Arrhythmia Monitoring
• Educational Support
• Medical management
• Catheter ablation procedures using state-of-the-art mapping technology
• Surgical ablation procedures, including minimally-invasive procedures

Innovative Therapies: New Options

Emory also offers access to a number of new options in the treatment of atrial fibrillation, including:

• Clinical trials of new medications for atrial fibrillation
• Clinical trials of new procedures or interventions for atrial fibrillation

For more information about the Emory Atrial Fibrillation Program or to schedule an appointment, please call Emory HealthConnection^SM at 404-778-7777 or 1-800-75-EMORY.