McLEOD HEALTH 5 AUGUST 2026

Select patients with atrial fibrillation (AFib) often need two procedures: one to treat their irregular heartbeat and another to reduce their risk of stroke. At McLeod Health, patients can now have both procedures completed during a single operation, called a Concomitant Procedure.

Traditionally, these two procedures were performed separately. Combining them into one procedure offers greater convenience, a single recovery period, a shorter hospital stay and, for many patients, a shorter duration taking blood-thinning medication after surgery.

Understanding Atrial Fibrillation

Atrial fibrillation is the most common type of irregular heartbeat that affects Americans. It occurs when the upper chambers of the heart beat chaotically, preventing blood from flowing normally.  When blood doesn’t move efficiently through the heart, it collects in a small pouch called the left atrial appendage. Blood that sits in this area can form clots, and if a clot breaks loose and travels to the brain, it can cause a stroke.

People with atrial fibrillation have a significantly higher risk of stroke than those with a normal heart rhythm.

Additional factors that can increase your risk of stroke include:

• High blood pressure
• Diabetes
• Congestive heart failure
• Coronary artery disease
• Peripheral vascular disease
• Advanced age, with women at a higher risk than men
• Prior stroke or TIA (transient ischemic attack)

Treating the Irregular Heartbeat

For many patients, an electrical cardioversion, ablation or medications can restore a normal heart rhythm. An ablation is a minimally invasive catheter procedure that blocks the abnormal electrical signals causing the irregular heartbeat.

At McLeod Health, electrophysiologists perform cutting edge FDA-approved Pulsed Field Ablation (PFA). This advanced technology uses short electrical pulses to target the heart cells responsible for the abnormal rhythm while minimizing damage to surrounding tissue. This is the safest form of ablation currently available.

Reducing the Risk of Stroke

Even after an ablation, patients can remain at risk of stroke due to blood clots that form in the left atrial appendage.

To help reduce that risk, McLeod Health offers Left Atrial Appendage Closure (LAAC) devices, such as the Watchman. The device is implanted to permanently seal off the left atrial appendage, preventing blood clots from entering the bloodstream and traveling to the brain. For many patients, the Watchman also provides an alternative to taking blood-thinning medication for life.

One Procedure, Two Benefits

Research has shown that performing an ablation and implanting a Left Atrial Appendage Closure device during the same procedure is both safe and effective, without increasing the risk of complications.

By treating the irregular heart rhythm and reducing stroke risk in a single operation, select patients benefit from one hospital visit, one recovery period and a more streamlined path to better heart health.

 

An electrophysiologist is a physician who specializes in evaluating the abnormalities of the heart’s rhythm. Dr. Cyrus Kocherla, Dr. Prabal Guha and Dr. Yuxuan Mao are the three physicians at McLeod whose specialty is in the electrical system of the heart or electrophysiology, a study of the electrical impulses of the heart. Dr. Kocherla is accepting new patients. Appointments with Dr. Kocherla at McLeod Cardiology Associates can be made by calling 843-667-1891.