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Atrial Fibrillation with High Stroke Risk and Bleeding Risk

Atrial Fibrillation (AFib) is an irregular and often rapid heart rhythm (arrhythmia) that occurs when the electrical signals in the upper chambers of the heart (atria) are chaotic, leading to ineffective atrial contractions. This can result in poor blood flow and may cause blood to pool in the atria, increasing the risk of clot formation. These blood clots can travel to the brain and cause a stroke.

When someone with Atrial Fibrillation also has a high stroke risk, it means that certain factors significantly increase the likelihood of blood clots forming and causing a stroke.

Atrial Fibrillation can increase the risk of stroke fivefold. Some individuals are at a much higher risk based on specific health conditions and characteristics. The CHA₂DS₂-VASc score is commonly used to assess stroke risk in AFib patients. It includes the following factors:

  1. C: Congestive heart failure (1 point)
  2. H: Hypertension (high blood pressure) (1 point)
  3. A: Age ≥ 75 years (2 points)
  4. D: Diabetes mellitus (1 point)
  5. S: Stroke, transient ischemic attack (TIA), or thromboembolism history (2 points)
  6. V: Vascular disease (e.g., prior heart attack, peripheral artery disease) (1 point)
  7. A: Age 65–74 years (1 point)
  8. S: Sex category (female) (1 point)

A higher score indicates a greater risk of stroke. For example, patients with a score of 2 or more are generally considered to have a high stroke risk and may need more aggressive treatment to prevent stroke.

In Atrial Fibrillation, the heart’s irregular rhythm prevents the atria from contracting effectively, allowing blood to pool and form clots in the heart’s left atrium. These clots can break free and travel through the bloodstream to the brain, causing an ischemic stroke.
Symptoms of Atrial Fibrillation include the following:

  • Irregular or rapid heartbeat
  • Heart palpitations
  • Fatigue or weakness
  • Shortness of breath
  • Dizziness or lightheadedness
  • Chest pain

Treatment options

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Left Atrial Appendage Closure

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Minimally invasive Robotic Atriclip and AF ablation

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