MDNews - Cleveland-Akron-Canton

Cover Feature ohad Ziv, mD, is the Director of the metrohealth atrial Fibrillation Center in Cleveland, where he performs the Lariat procedure for patients with aFib. Dr. Ziv is board-certified in Clinical Cardiac electrophysiology, Cardiovascular medicine and internal medicine. A TrIAL FIBrILLATIoN (AFIB) is a major health problem in the U.S., where the lifetime risk of developing it is one in four, according to the National Heart, Lung, Blood Institute (NHLBI). By the end of 2020, the NHLBI projects AFib will affect 4.4 million Americans. "AFib is the most common arrhythmia, and stroke is its most devastating consequence," says Ohad Ziv, MD, the Head of Cardiac Electrophysiology and Director of the Atrial Fibrillation Center at The MetroHealth System in Cleveland. 10 | Cleveland/Akron/Canton MD News In fact, a 2011 report from the American College of Cardiolog y F o u n d a t i o n /A m e r i c a n H e a r t Association indicates that the risk of stroke is five times higher in patients with AFib than in those without AFib. "Arrhythmias disrupt blood flow, causing blood to pool and clot — especially in the left atrial appendage (LAA) where there's little or no flow of blood. This 'pouch' is where more than 90 percent of blood clots form when a patient is in atrial fibrillation," says Dr. Ziv. ■ mdNEWS.Com ■ NovEmBEr /dECEmBEr He explains that 60–70 percent of people with AFib have enough of a risk of stroke to warrant interventional treatment. In most instances, that means daily doses of anticoagulants. While these blood thinners significantly reduce the risk of stroke, they also increase the risk of bleeding. "About one in three patients with AFib who is at risk for stroke cannot take anticoagulants," he says. "These include patients with prior bleeding or high risk for bleeding with anticoagulants or patients with recurrent falls." photo © Smithberger photography, North CaNtoN Ohad Ziv, MD Advancing Treatment for AFib Patients

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