Atrial fibrillation (AFib) and mitral valve regurgitation are often interconnected. Mitral regurgitation occurs when the valve doesn’t close properly, allowing blood to leak backward into the left atrium. Over time the backflow of blood causes pressure in the atrium to increase, which causes the atrial walls to stretch and enlarge. Eventually, the atrial enlargement disrupts the heart’s electrical system, making AFib more likely. Once a patient is diagnosed with AFib, it’s imperative to get treatment for the irregular heartbeat to prevent a stroke.<\/p>\n
We recently received a great patient question on this important topic from Rob, who asked, “I’m researching treatment options for mitral regurgitation. I also have atrial fibrillation. Do both approaches, surgery and transcatheter, have the same impact on my AFib?”<\/p>\n
To answer Rob\u2019s question, we met with Dr. Marc Gerdisch<\/a>, the Chief of Cardiac Surgery at Franciscan Health in Indianapolis, Indiana. So you know, Dr. Gerdisch has performed over 7,000 cardiac surgeries, with more than 5,000 involving heart valve procedures. In our community, Dr. Gerdisch has successfully treated more than 100 patients with excellent outcomes.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n