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Hybrid ablation for atrial fibrillation (A-fib) combines minimally invasive treatment of the inside and outside of the heart to interrupt the cause of A-fib and restore a normal heart rhythm.
The procedure is called hybrid because of the combination. During the treatment, the specialists at Norton Heart & Vascular Institute use precise tools to deliver a gentle bit of heat (ablation) to the heart muscle, creating scar tissue that interrupts errant electrical signals that cause A-fib and may minimize the symptoms that you feel. A-fib also can have long-term effects on the health of your heart.
The specialists at Norton Heart & Vascular Institute, serving Louisville and Southern Indiana, have been performing hybrid ablations since 2017 — longer than any other providers in the area. Norton Heart & Vascular Institute is among the 10 most experienced programs in the country in terms of successfully completed hybrid ablation procedures.
Making the procedure available to many more patients, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently approved hybrid ablation as the only minimally invasive ablation treatment for patients who have been in continuous A-fib for more than one year.
The American College of Cardiology has recognized Norton Audubon Hospital, Norton Brownsboro Hospital and Norton Hospital for their expertise and commitment to cardiac catheterization procedures like hybrid ablation. The accreditation recognizes consistent best practices of patient care and the ability to provide the highest level of cardiac catheterization procedures.
The experienced hybrid ablation specialists at Norton Heart & Vascular Institute routinely train other physicians on how to perform the procedure safely. Norton Healthcare contributed to the FDA’s decision process to approve the procedure by providing data on the procedure and success rates.
The Norton Heart & Vascular Institute Atrial Fibrillation Clinic is designed to evaluate and treat anyone experiencing this common arrhythmia. The team of providers and a nurse navigator create a custom treatment plan for each patient that considers options ranging from medication to evaluation for advanced treatment options like hybrid ablation.
Cardiac ablation in general is the precise use of heat or cold to create tiny bits of scar tissue in or on the heart at the source of the A-fib to steady the heartbeat. Some patients may have a catheter ablation, which addresses just the inside of the heart, before the hybrid procedure is considered for a minimally invasive way to treat the outside of the heart.
You’ll be treated by highly experienced electrophysiologists and cardiothoracic surgeons who collaborate toward the best possible outcome.
The first step is addressing the outside of the heart through an inch-long incision under the rib cage. The surgeon inserts an instrument that delivers heat via radio frequency to the precise spot on the outside of your heart to interrupt the A-fib.
After several weeks, a second procedure is done that targets the signals for A-fib inside the heart. A small catheter is inserted through the groin and into the heart. The tip of the catheter delivers heat to the precise spot on the inside of your heart to interrupt the signals that cause A-fib.
By completing an ablation from the inside and outside of the heart, our specialists increase the chances of restoring a normal sinus rhythm (normal heart rhythm).
Learn more about A-fib and advanced treatment options. Once you register for this free virtual workshop, you will receive a link to watch at your convenience.
You may be a good candidate for the procedure if:
Patients who have had open-chest surgeries are not eligible for hybrid ablation. Consult your physician to explore your treatment options.
With hybrid ablation, up to 80% of patients achieve a normal sinus rhythm. And one study reported that 90% of hybrid ablation patients experienced a reduction in A-fib burden after one year. According to the same study, only 36% of patients with longstanding, persistent A-fib who have a traditional catheter ablation experienced the same results.
Complications are possible with every heart procedure. However, the risks involved with hybrid ablation are low – nationally, fewer than 1% of patients experience a complication. The procedure has a comparable safety event rate to traditional catheter ablation.
Norton Heart & Vascular Institute offers advanced care at all of our adult-service hospitals to save hearts and lives.
Norton Heart & Vascular Institute offers patient resources to support you and your family, including free classes for people of all ages who want to improve cardiovascular health or are living with a heart condition.