University Hospital Galway has become the first public hospital in the country to employ the minimally invasive convergent procedure, for the treatment of atrial fibrillation.
The innovative procedure was carried out by Professor Alan Soo, Consultant Cardiothoracic Surgeon and Dr Stephen Tuohy, Consultant Cardiac Electrophysiologist at UHG.
“Afib is a condition where your heart beats irregularly (arrhythmia), usually much faster than normal and this is caused by disruptions in the electrical signals that regulate your heart, making it harder for the upper and lower chambers of the heart to work together,” said Professor Soo.
“While medication or catheter ablation can successfully treat Afib, some patients’ symptoms recur or worsen. Now, with the convergent procedure, such patients have another treatment option allowing for minimal discomfort, lower risk of complications, faster recovery time and a shorter hospital stay.”
The procedure is performed by a Cardiothoracic Surgeon and a Cardiac Electrophysiologist, who use radiofrequency energy to make ablations, or small lesions or burns on the heart that will effectively block the irregular electrical signals or heartbeat. It is one of the most effective surgical techniques in treating individuals with persistent atrial fibrillation.
Hospital Manager Chris Kane said, “This is a first for University Hospital Galway, and we welcome this new treatment option for patients. It will significantly improve the patient experience, and we are delighted to have debuted this innovation here in Galway.”
Atrial fibrillation affects more than 1-2% of the population with increasing incidence in those over 65. If left untreated, it can lead to blood clots, stroke, heart failure and other heart-related complications.
