Parrish Healthcare is Brevard County’s first hospital to provide atrial fibrillation patients with same-day ablations

TITUSVILLE, FLA. (July 5, 2023)— Parrish Healthcare is Brevard County’s first hospital to provide atrial fibrillation (AFib or AF) patients with same-day ablations, a procedure that returns irregular—and dangerous—heart rhythms to normal.

“Same-day ablations enable patients to be treated as outpatients. This reduces costs and allows patients to quickly receive relief and return home, which is where they want to be,” said Ajit Janardhan, MD. “Our Parrish team studied and reviewed the advantages of same-day ablation and concluded that it’s a procedure with significant benefits for patients seeking freedom from AFib. We’re proud to be the first hospital in Brevard to offer this service.”

AFib is a rapid heartbeat that occurs when the upper part of the heart, the atria, is beating rapidly: in extreme cases, up to 600 beats per minute, while the lower part of the heart (ventricles) beat normally. AFib’s irregular heartbeat causes blood to pool in the heart and increases the risk of blood clots and strokes.

“AFib can affect people of any age, but the highest percentage is among people over age 65,” said Dr. Janardhan. “There are perhaps 15,000 Brevard residents in the over-65 age group who at present have AFib, and that number is constantly changing.”

In same-day ablation, a surgeon uses catheters—thin, flexible tubes—inserted into the heart via veins or arteries, to apply the heat or cold that stops the errant electrical signals causing AFib.

The surgeon conducts the procedure using a video monitor. Same-day ablation usually takes three to four hours to perform, including the time needed to prepare for the procedure and to remove the catheters from the body. Dr. Janardhan is Board Certified in Cardiovascular Disease and Cardiac Electrophysiology. He performs same-day ablations in Parrish Medical Center’s Cardiac Catheterization Lab.

Not all AFib patients are eligible for same-day ablation; some may need more extensive surgical procedures. A physician can best determine the right treatment. Ask your physician if same-day ablation is right for you. To find a physician visit parrishhealthcare.com/providers.