Dr. deGuzman:
I think the biggest reason to cure it is probably two-fold: one to reduce
stroke risk, and two to increase patient’s cardiac function and reduce the longstanding effects from
atrial fibrillation which can also cause congestive
heart failure. So, I think, really to reduce
stroke risk significantly, you have to get rid of the
atrial fibrillation completely as well as exclude the left atrial appendage, which is the cul-de-sac where clot can form which ultimately can break off and cause
stroke. So those are the two biggest reasons to try to cure it rather than just treat it, because most of the treatment options, even medical therapy and electrical therapy like cardioversion and pacemakers, do not reduce those risks significantly.
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