REALTIME iCMR CARDIAC ABLATIONS

ATRIAL FLUTTER TREATMENT
YOU CAN SEE AND TRUST

What Is Atrial Flutter (AFL)?

Atrial Flutter is a heart rhythm disorder (arrhythmia) caused by problems with your heart’s electrical system. Atrial Flutter affects your heart’s upper chambers (atria) and causes a heartbeat that is too fast. The typically regular, but fast, rhythm is what makes atrial flutter different from other types of arrhythmias. If left untreated, it can increase your risk of stroke or heart failure.

Signs & Symptoms

It is possible that you may not feel any symptoms with AFL. Some individuals do experience symptoms that may include:

Feeling tired and not having enough energy
Heart palpitations (feeling like your heart is racing, pounding, or fluttering)
Fast, steady pulse
Shortness of breath
Trouble with everyday exercises or activities
Pain, pressure, tightness, or discomfort in your chest

How is Atrial Flutter Diagnosed?

Atrial flutter is diagnosed by your doctor. Tests may include:

Electrocardiogram (ECG)
Holter monitor or event monitor
Electrophysiological study

Treatment Options for Atrial Flutter

You are not alone in deciding what is the best treatment option for you. Your doctor will help you choose the best path for your health.

Realtime iCMR Cardiac Ablations

Cardiac ablation is a procedure performed by your doctor using a catheter to access your heart. With the help of the MRI scanner to visualize the catheter placement, your doctor uses the tip of the catheter to apply energy to eliminate the small areas of the heart tissue causing your arrhythmia. The MRI scanner’s ability to provide soft tissue visualization allows for your doctor to precisely ablate problem areas, which may reduce the need for multiple procedures.

Questions to Ask Your Doctor About Realtime iCMR Cardiac Ablations

Am I a good candidate for a cardiac ablation procedure?
Can you describe what happens during the ablation procedure?
How should I prepare for the MRI?
What is the recovery time after the ablation procedure? Are there any precautions that I need to take?

With any medical procedure, complications may occur. Possible risks include bleeding or infection at the site where the catheter was inserted, blood vessel and heart valve damage, blood clots, heart attack or stroke, narrowing of pulmonary veins, new or worsening arrhythmia, tamponade, and in rare cases death may occur. Talk to your doctor about the likelihood of these risks as you consider MRI-guided catheter ablation for your condition.

MRI-guided catheter ablations are prescribed by your doctor. This treatment is intended for Type 1 atrial flutter in patients 18 years or older. Please talk to your doctor if this treatment is right for you.

What to Expect During a Realtime iCMR Cardiac Ablation Procedure

Preparations

Your procedure will take place in an iCMR lab where the MRI scanner is located. Once you are under anesthesia, your doctor will place two MRI safe catheters (long flexible tube) into the vein in your upper thigh area in each leg. Your doctor will use the MRI scanner to view the catheters being placed to confirm proper placement of the catheters before beginning the procedure.

During the Procedure

Your doctor will spend time taking images of your heart using the MRI scanner to locate the area of the heart causing the abnormal heart beat. Using the electrode on the tip of the catheter, radio-frequency heat energy is applied to damage or “ablate” the problem area. Your doctor then uses the MRI scanner’s ability to visualize the soft tissue problem area and confirms that a proper “block” has been achieved to stop the abnormal heart beat utilizing captured heart signals.

Meet Nico and Koos who received MRI guided cardiac ablation therapy to treat their Atrial Flutter

After the Procedure

After your procedure, you will need to limit movement and your doctor may ask you to lie still for two-six hours. Some patients are allowed to go home the same day as the procedure depending on your condition.

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