A 70-year-old man with atrial fibrillation underwent a one-stop operation to treat it and prevent stroke. Left atrial appendage occlusion can help prevent blood clots that cause stroke.

[Reporter Lin Mingyou/Taichung Report]70-year-old Uncle Chen likes outdoor sports and cycling. Due to atrial fibrillation, he has been taking anticoagulant drugs for a long time. Last year, a car accident caused a pelvic fracture and hemorrhage. Chen Kewei, the chief physician of the Cardiovascular Department of the Ministry of Health, made a diagnosis and suggested to accept the comprehensive and precise treatment of atrial fibrillation, “atrial fibrillation electric burn” and “left atrial appendage closure” one-stop operation. Chen Bobo can enjoy hugging exercise more easily after the operation. Healthy Life!

According to domestic research, there are more than 250,000 people in Taiwan with atrial fibrillation, and the prevalence rate is about 1%. A proportion of young and middle-aged patients suffer from atrial fibrillation. In addition, people with a history of stroke, heart failure, high blood pressure or left atrial hypertrophy are more prone to atrial fibrillation.

▲Dr. Chen Kewei explained that “left atrial appendage occlusion” is a new type of cardiac catheterization, which can send a specially designed occluder into the left atrium through the minimally invasive opening of the thigh vein in a short time. (Photographed by reporter Lin Mingyou)

Chen Kewei pointed out that the most common type of embolic stroke in Taiwan is arrhythmia called atrial fibrillation. Atrial fibrillation is an abnormal discharge of electrical activity in the atrium. Symptoms such as dizziness, weakness, and difficulty breathing, some patients don’t even feel any symptoms at all.

▲Dr. Chen Kewei suggested that if you often have symptoms of palpitations, you cannot measure your heartbeat correctly with a blood pressure monitor, or you are known to have arrhythmia, you should first go to the cardiology clinic for an examination as soon as possible. (Photographed by reporter Lin Mingyou)

Chen Kewei said that once atrial fibrillation occurs, the atrium loses its systolic function, blood easily stagnates in the atrium, and gradually forms a coagulated blood clot (thrombus); when the blood clot leaves the heart with the blood flow to the brain or other organs, it will be blocked. blood vessels, causing an ischemic infarction in the area is quite dangerous. Generally, after stroke risk assessment, most patients will need to take a sufficient dose of anticoagulant for life to eliminate potential blood clots and prevent embolic stroke.

Chen Kewei pointed out that high doses of anticoagulants may increase the risk of bleeding in patients with atrial fibrillation to varying degrees. Cerebrovascular embolism, and some patients still have stroke even though they are taking anticoagulant drugs.

Chen Kewei emphasized that a stroke caused by atrial fibrillation often affects the main motor and language areas of the brain, seriously impairing the patient’s ability to live. About 90% of the blood clots produced by atrial fibrillation are formed in the left atrial appendage. Therefore, patients with atrial fibrillation also undergo “left atrial appendage occlusion” as one of the methods to prevent stroke.

Chen Kewei said that “left atrial appendage occlusion” is a new type of cardiac catheterization. In a short period of time, a specially designed occluder can be sent into the left atrium through the micro-trauma of the thigh vein, and 90% of the blood clots in atrial fibrillation can be removed. The source left atrial appendage is completely closed, which greatly reduces the chance of the patient having a stroke in the future. When performing left atrial appendage closure, because the surgical approach is the same as for atrial fibrillation, we can perform both procedures simultaneously in appropriate patients.

Chen Kewei suggested that if patients often have symptoms of palpitations, cannot correctly measure the heartbeat with a blood pressure monitor, or are known to have arrhythmia, they should first go to the cardiology clinic for examination as soon as possible. If the possibility of atrial fibrillation is found, further examinations such as heart rate monitoring and esophageal ultrasound should be performed according to the doctor’s advice. And discuss with the doctor such as long-term use of anticoagulant drugs, and “left atrial appendage closure surgery” plus atrial fibrillation electrocautery and other options to find the most suitable treatment for your lifestyle.

〈Elevated atrial fibrillation, stroke crisis, one-stop operation of China Affiliated Medical Center to regain health〉This article was first published in “Taiwan Good News》。