
Atrial Fibrillation Treatment at Rocky Mountain Heart Rhythm Institute
Rocky Mountain Heart Rhythm Institute treats patients at these locations:
Rose Medical Center |
Swedish Medical Center |
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The Medical Center of Aurora |
Rocky Mountain Heart Rhythm Institute takes matters of the heart seriously... and you should, too. You know your heart, and you know when something does not feel right. Leaving your heart condition untreated could be a potentially serious problem.
Rocky Mountain Heart Rhythm Institute ensures patients who suffer from cardiac arrhythmias get the care they need. We aim to restore your heart to its normal rhythm and improve your quality of life by providing specialized care for your heart.
The personalized care you will receive from Rocky Mountain Heart Rhythm Institute is second to none. Our cardiologists, electrophysiologists (cardiologists who specialize in arrhythmia treatment and diagnosis) and heart surgeons are involved and committed to pioneering new minimally invasive approaches and procedures. We are dedicated to providing thorough, compassionate care and recommending minimally invasive treatment whenever possible.
About Atrial Fibrillation
Atrial Fibrillation (AFib) is one of the most common and undertreated irregular heart rhythm conditions in America. The most common type of cardiac arrhythmia, its diagnosis indicates that blood isn’t moving properly through the heart. This increases the risk of stroke, congestive heart failure and may cause chronic fatigue.
Patients with AFib have heartbeats significantly faster than a normal heartbeat. Because AFib causes the heart to beat at a faster rhythm, blood is not completely pumped from the heart’s atria, increasing the chances of pooling and clotting.
Atrial Fibrillation Treatments
Rocky Mountain Heart Rhythm Institute is constantly at the forefront of new AFib treatment methods. One such treatment, the Convergent Procedure, is a minimally invasive procedure performed outside the operating room. Another is the WATCHMAN Implant procedure which is also minimally invasive and does not require open heart surgery.
The Convergent Procedure is designed to treat the type of AFib that:
- Has not responded to previous – even multiple – ablation procedures
- Was not eligible for an ablation procedure in the past
- Is either Permanent or longstanding Persistent
- Is associated with a large left atrium
The Convergent Procedure is a special hybrid approach to treating advanced forms of AFib without requiring chest incisions. A scope inserted through a small incision in the abdomen is used to evaluate pulmonary vein AFib triggers for activity and ablated through a standard catheter approach fed through the patient’s groin. A unique combination of heat and freezing energy is then used to produce truly impressive results for types of AFib thought previously untreatable.
We’re also proud to provide the WATCHMAN Left Atrial Appendage Closure (LAAC) device, a treatment that reduces AFib stroke risk and may eliminate the need for blood thinners in people with non-valvular AFib. For people considered suitable for warfarin by their doctors, but have reason to seek an alternative for stroke prevention, WATCHMAN could be an implant-based option.
The WATCHMAN implant is indicated for people who:
- Have non-valvular atrial fibrillation
- Are at increased risk for a stroke
- Are recommended for blood thinning medicines
- Have a reason to seek a non-drug alternative to warfarin
Get your heart back in rhythm. To learn more about your treatment options, schedule an appointment today!