Palm Beach Gardens Medical Center reports it is the first hospital in the state of Florida to now offer the new LARIAT/Convergent Hybrid AF™ procedure for patients who have atrial fibrillation, or A-Fib. This technique combines left atrial appendage closure with the LARIAT and the Convergent procedure to ablate both the inside and outside part of the heart tissue causing A-Fib. This gives patients a better chance of curing their A-Fib, and reduce their risk of stroke. Dr. Nishant Patel and Dr. Matthew Kolek were the first two physicians to perform this type of procedure.

“1 in 4 adults over the age of 40 will develop A-Fib in their lifetime, but this new hybrid procedure is now giving people an opportunity to no longer suffer with this disease and be able to resume their daily activities,” said Dr. Nishant Patel cardiothoracic surgeon on staff at Palm Beach Gardens Medical Center. “This hospital is at the forefront of new procedures for cardiac care, and our community has access to them right here in our backyard.”

Unlike traditional surgical treatments, the LARIAT procedure is completed through small punctures in the skin, so in addition to less pain, the patient benefits from a shorter recovery time and less risk of complications.

The Convergent procedure effectively treats patients with chronic atrial fibrillation. It utilizes radiofrequency to block irregular electrical signals by producing lesions, or scar tissue, on the heart.