Atrial Fibrillation

What is Atrial Fibrillation (AF)?

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common type of rhythm disorder requiring treatment. In AF, due to abnormal impulses that often originate in the left atrium, the atria cannot contract; they only vibrate. This can cause palpitations, shortness of breath and rapid fatigue. AF can have many causes. The most known risk factors are: Cardiovascular occlusion, Hypertensiondiabetes, obesity, advanced age, sleep apnea syndrome, genetic predisposition and heavy exercise. In AF, the atria do not contract, so there is less movement of blood in the pocket in the left atrium (LAA). Blood in a stagnant place is also prone to clotting. One day, this clot may break loose and travel through the blood vessels to the brain, causing a stroke. One in four stroke patients in the world has had a stroke due to this arrhythmia (AF). AF can also reduce the pumping power of the heart, i.e. heart failure can cause Because the heart can no longer provide enough oxygen that the body needs, fatigue, shortness of breath and pulmonary edema can develop.

How is Atrial Fibrillation (AF) treated?

AF tedavisinde felç riskini azaltmak ve anormal elektriksel aktiviteyi kontrol etmek çok önemlidir. Klasik kan sulandırıcı ilaç olan varfarin veya yan etkileri daha az olan yeni nesil kan sulandırıcı ilaçlar (NOAK’lar: Dabigatran, rivaroxaban, apixaban ve edoxaban) pıhtı oluşmasını engellerler. Rhythm medications also eliminate the patient's symptoms by blocking the foci that produce abnormal impulses or their effects. If rhythm medications do not work or cause side effects, a burning procedure called ablation can be applied. This procedure usually takes 1-2 hours. In the procedure, a catheter is inserted into the heart through the groin vein. It passes from the right atrium to the left atrium by piercing the partition between them with a needle. The catheter has sensors that measure the electrical activity of the heart. This allows an electrical map of the heart to be made. Abnormal foci are usually found at the entrances to the pulmonary veins. These abnormal foci are then burned using hot or cold techniques. After successful cauterization, the heart starts beating normally, i.e. the rhythm becomes regular. In some patients, this procedure may be the first choice without medication. In the treatment of AF, some patients may also be treated by correcting the rhythm with a controlled electric shock (cardioversion) and by sealing the sac in the left atrium with a plug. (LAA shutdown) may be necessary.

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