Device Therapy for AFib

Device therapy is another treatment option for patients suffering from AFib. A pacemaker is a device that sends small electrical impulses to the heart muscle to maintain a suitable heart rate. Pacemakers are implanted in people with AFib who have a slow heart rate. The pacemaker has a pulse generator (that houses the battery and a tiny computer) and leads (wires) that send impulses from the pulse generator to the heart muscle, as well as sense the heart¡¯s electrical activity. Newer pacemakers have many sophisticated features, designed to help with the management of arrhythmias and to optimize heart rate-related function as much as possible.

Tampa General Hospital offers the WATCHMAN?, a permanent implant proven to reduce stroke risk in AFib patients. The WATCHMAN? is a minimally invasive, one-time procedure that can replace the need for long-term blood thinners. Learn more about the WATCHMAN? Implant and how it effectively reduces the risk of stroke in AFib patients.