Atrial fibrillation is an irregular heart rhythm that causes the upper chamber (atrium) of the heart to beat out of sync with the bottom chamber (ventricle). A ½ million new cases of atrial fibrillation are diagnosed yearly in the U.S. (www.medicinetcom) Radiofrequency ablation of the left atrium (RF ablation of LA) is a surgical procedure that knocks out the pathways in the heart that cause atrial fibrillation (AF). Patients who are in a sustained AF (new) or have chronic AF are required to take a blood thinner called Coumadin.

In patients with heart conditions requiring heart surgery, RF ablation can also be performed at the same time to correct AF. If a patient regains a normal, regular rhythm, long term Coumadin may not be required. 

This ablation procedure is successful in the majority of patients who have it. The additional procedure does not prolong the recovery from routine heart surgery.

The Virtua Surgical Group has specially trained heart surgeons that perform RF ablation for atrial fibrillation in conjunction with coronary artery bypass, valve surgery or any other types of heart surgery at Our Lady of Lourdes Medical Center, Camden, N.J.