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Atrial Fibrillation is a widespread condition afflicting more than two million Americans. It may be associated with intolerably rapid heart rates, heart failure and stroke. While some people are not bothered much with the condition, others are debilitated. Medications might be enough to control the rhythm abnormalities, but sometimes, the patient's quality of life has decline so much that more aggressive treatment is needed.
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| James Maloney, MD |
James Maloney, MD, is a pioneer in the use of radiofrequency ablation for treatment of heart rhythm abnormalities. He has led the heart rhythm programs at the Mayo Clinic, The Cleveland Clinic and Baylor College of Medicine and has recently joined the Carondelet Heart Institute as the Director of the Heart Rhythm Center.
Dr. Maloney says the body of knowledge has changed allowing for better treatment of atrial fibrillation. "It is now possible to CURE atrial fibrillation in most patients," says Dr. Maloney. "This is significant because 15-20 percent of all strokes are due to atrial fibrillaion."
During the procedure, catheters are inserted into different veins to record electrical activity in the heart. Doctors find the so called "hot spots" causing the abnormalities, then energy is delivered through the catheter to destroy the abnormal tissue. Dr. Maloney says the success rate is near 90 percent.
Until this year, patients in the Kansas City area needing radiofrequency ablation for atrial fibrillation had to travel. There was usually a wait of four to eight months. But now, Dr. Maloney, who has years of experience with the procedure, can do it at the Carondelet Heart Institute.
For more information, or to schedule a cardiac risk screening, call 816-9HEARTS, (816-943-2787).
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