Atrial Fibrillation
(rapid heartbeat or flutter)

Electrical impulses regulate the contractions that control how the heart pumps blood. If those impulses don’t function correctly, they can cause arrhythmias such as irregular heartbeat, a racing or fluttering heart rate (atrial fibrillation), skipping heartbeat or other heart rhythm disorders.

Cardiovascular patients at Abington Memorial Hospital benefit from advanced technology for diagnostics and treatment. Arrhythmias are best diagnosed with up-to-date electrophysiology techniques to determine what’s causing the abnormal rhythm.

Atrial fibrillation may be treated and cured through minimally invasive procedures including pulmonary vein isolation, radiofrequency ablation and ganglion mapping. MAZE surgery uses tiny incisions and a videoscopic camera to cure atrial fibrillation. Some arrhythmia patients may receive implanted devices such as pacemakers and implantable cardioverter defibrillators to help regulate the heart’s beating action.

Read an atrial fibrillation patient’s story about how the team at the Heart Rhythm Center used minimally invasive heart surgery techniques to successfully restore normal heart rate.

For expertise on diagnosing and treating atrial fibrillation or other arrhythmias, contact the specialists at Abington’s Pilla Heart Center and Heart Rhythm Center.