Failed Surgical Heart Valve or Repair
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:
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:
Left Atrial Appendage Closure
Minimally invasive Robotic Atriclip and AF ablation