Treatment of Atrial Flutter (fibrillation) in Germany

Among all the organs in the human body, the heart is probably the one that requires the most attention; if there are any problems with it, patients are advised to seek medical help. For example, when it comes to atrial fibrillation, a disease requires medical care, which is efficiently provided in Germany.

Atrial fibrillation refers to heart rhythm disorders. Normally, the heart beats steadily and regularly, whereas, with this disorder, it beats chaotically or excessively. Sometimes even healthy people notice atrial flutter when they are emotionally disturbed.

Content

1. Atrial fibrillation overview
2. What causes atrial flutter?
3. Is atrial fibrillation dangerous?
4. How does atrial flutter manifest itself?
5. Principles of treatment of atrial fibrillation
6. Conservative therapy
7. Minimally invasive treatment methods in Germany
8. The cost of treatment in German hospitals
9. Why undergo treatment in Germany?
10. Treatment in German hospitals with Booking Health

Atrial fibrillation overview

Atrial fibrillation is a type of heart rhythm disorder characterized by a frequent and chaotic heartbeat. In this pathology, a circulatory disorder is present, which affects all human organs and systems.

In a healthy body, the heart rate may also become faster or, conversely, slower. All of this is a normal adaptation of the heart to the current loads. Thus, during intensive physical activity, heart rate increases, and during rest, respectively, it decreases. This process is quite physiological and necessary to ensure sufficient blood flow to the muscles. However, with pathological changes in heart rhythm, an increase and decrease in the frequency of beats occur regardless of the intensity of the load. Atrial fibrillation, for instance, may occur both during physical activity and in a state of physical and emotional rest. In some cases, the heart rate can reach up to a dangerous frequency, becoming a serious threat to the life of patients.

Without adequate treatment, the pathology can provoke angina, thromboembolism, ischemic stroke, or even cardiac arrest.

The risk of stroke in patients with atrial fibrillation is several times higher than in people without it. Patients with rheumatic heart disease complicated by atrial fibrillation have a higher risk of developing the cerebrovascular disorder than patients without atrial fibrillation.

In patients with atrial fibrillation, the mortality rate is approximately 2 times higher than in patients with sick sinus syndrome. Dissociation of atrial and ventricular function leads to a decrease in cardiac output by 20 – 30% due to the lack of atrial contribution to cardiac output, as well as incomplete filling of the left ventricle with blood.

Thus, long-term existing atrial fibrillation leads to the development of dilated cardiomyopathy, which is accompanied by dilated heart cavities, marked systolic dysfunction of the left ventricle (reduced ejection fraction), the occurrence of mitral and tricuspid regurgitation, which leads to the increase in the probability of heart failure. Atrial fibrillation leads to blood stasis and thrombosis in the auricle of the left atrium with a high risk of cerebral artery occlusion, the main arteries of the upper and lower extremities, and vessels supplying internal organs.

What causes atrial flutter?

Several health conditions and diseases predispose to the occurrence of atrial flutter. It is often detected in older people, as well as in those who suffer from cardiovascular diseases, in which the systemic function of the heart is somewhat damaged. Damage to the heart functioning can be caused by:

• Myocardial infarction.
• Damaged heart valves.
• Congenital heart defects.
• Thyroid hyperfunction (hyperthyroidism) or other metabolic disorders.
• Various stimulant substances (caffeine, nicotine, alcohol, certain medications).
• Pre-operative heart or lung problems.
• Lung diseases.
• Stress related to pneumonia, surgery, or other causes.
• Sleep apnea.
• Obesity.

Is atrial fibrillation dangerous?

In most cases, atrial fibrillation does not pose a threat to the life of patients directly. To a greater extent, it affects the accelerated process of heart failure, reducing the quality of life. However, in some situations, patients having the diagnosis are in danger. Certain conditions for the formation of blood clots can arise, and such traveling clots can block the vessels of the brain, limbs, and internal organs, which is considered fatal.

The most favorable conditions for thromboembolism are created in the chronic (permanent) type of atrial fibrillation. Besides, patients with atrial fibrillation are influenced drastically in terms of their quality of life: constant feeling of the danger of atrial flutter at any moment, and complete dependence on access to medical help is quite exhausting.

To conclude, atrial fibrillation can be called a life-threatening condition, considering that the atrial muscle fibers lose the ability to work in a synchronized manner. This chaotic twitching also causes the ventricles to contract irregularly. In addition to the disruption of normal life, atrial fibrillation can lead to serious complications: the development of heart failure, the formation of blood clots in the atria, which can get to the brain and cause a stroke, get into the peripheral arteries, causing various ischemic disorders and damage to the limbs. This is a serious disease that requires monitoring and quality medical care. The treatment of atrial fibrillation in Germany guarantees full exposition of all functions of the cardiovascular system and prevention of future disorders.

How does atrial flutter manifest itself?

One could explain what happens in atrial flutter giving an analogy with water: when stones are thrown into the water, regular waves begin to spread on its surface. Similarly, electric excitation waves spread with a normal heartbeat (an electric impulse causes different heart areas to contract regularly and consistently). However, if several stones are thrown at the same time, regular waves are not possible, and a series of chaotic, irregular waves occur on the water surface. This is what happens with atrial flutter.

Commonly identified symptoms are heart palpitations, trembling, or a feeling of inconsistent heart beating. Dyspnea, fatigue, chest pain, dizziness or drowsiness, a feeling of impending fainting or syncope, anxiety, or a panic attack can occur.

It is also worth knowing that in some people atrial fibrillation goes and persists without clinical manifestations.

Principles of treatment of atrial fibrillation

The main goal of the treatment of atrial flutter is to improve the patient's quality of life, to create a stable remission of the disease, and to prevent strokes. In German cardiology centers, several tactics are used for the treatment of atrial fibrillation. The choice of therapy depends on the complexity of the disease and complications caused by it.

Patients may be offered conservative treatment in the Department of Internal Medicine at German hospitals, where they will be under the constant supervision of specialists and medical staff. All appointments are made by a cardiologist after receiving the results of diagnostic tests and examinations.

However, it is proved that the most effective way to achieve the goal of treatment is a combined approach, which includes the prescription of medications in combination with a specific type of surgical treatment.

Conservative therapy

Atrial flutter belongs to factors that can contribute to ischemic stroke resulting from thrombus formation. The first-line medical care for atrial fibrillation is medication that controls thrombus formation. It is prescribed since control of the clotting system is required. These drugs are indicated for virtually all patients who suffer from atrial fibrillation. Regardless of whether the disease is permanent or occurs in an acute form (paroxysmal), the risk of stroke is the same.

In patients with acute atrial fibrillation, prophylaxis is prescribed. If an attack occurs for the first time, medication is not prescribed. Drugs that provide heart rate control and enhance the tolerance of recurrent rhythm disturbances may be recommended. Drugs are also not prescribed if the patient's episodes are asymptomatic and do not reduce the quality of life. When heart rate control is not achieved and the tolerance to paroxysms worsens, the cardiologist together with the patient decides on the prescription of antiarrhythmic drugs or surgical treatment of atrial flutter. If a prolonged episode does not resolve itself, patients should consult a specialist, who will choose the appropriate method to control the disease.

When the paroxysmal type of atrial flutter transforms into chronic, the main task of therapy is heart rate control. Medications that reduce tachycardia are prescribed, among which beta blockers are the priority. An integral part of the therapy is the treatment of the disease that has caused atrial flutter: coronary heart disease, heart failure, arterial hypertension, thyroid disorders, and others.

The method of drug restoration of normal heart rhythm, as well as the procedure of rhythm restoration by electrical cardioversion, has been developed. Rhythm restoration requires certain medication, the scheme of which will be determined by the doctor, based on the individual characteristics of the disease. With the advent of the latest highly effective antiarrhythmic agents, preference is given to drug-assisted rhythm recovery.

Minimally invasive treatment methods in Germany

Based on a detailed examination and accurate diagnosis, German doctors select the most effective drug therapy strategies. With drug treatment in Germany, intravenous injection of medications is quite often used to stop the attacks. In addition, drug therapy is supplemented by a special course of physical exercises, which are aimed at strengthening the heart and normalizing its functions.

Taking into account that drugs can only make the patient's condition milder but never cure the condition completely, the European medicine can offer minimally invasive methods able to get rid of the disease completely.

In electrical cardioversion, electrodes are inserted into certain areas of the atrium, in which the attacks occur, using catheterization. A momentary current discharge triggers the correct rhythm. The effectiveness of electrical cardioversion in the treatment of atrial fibrillation in Germany is 90%, which is far superior to the results of drug therapy. The procedure is easily tolerated by patients and requires no rehabilitation.

Radiofrequency catheter ablation is another procedure for the treatment of atrial fibrillation, where a distant electrode is inserted through a vein on the hip or forearm, precisely in the area of pathological lesions, which are affected through an electric impulse. The results of catheter ablation for the treatment of atrial fibrillation in Germany are among the best in the world. Efficiency is 80% with the first procedure and 90% with the second one.

Pacemaker implantation is also used to treat atrial fibrillation in Germany. In general, a pacemaker is implanted under local anesthesia and the surgery lasts about 30 minutes. A special catheter is inserted through a puncture in the hip region into the heart cavity. The cardiac surgeon then makes a small incision in the skin in the chest area and inserts the pacemaker itself into the subcutaneous tissue. The device is connected to the electrodes, and the incision is sutured.

In Germany, state-of-the-art pacemakers are used that can respond to physical exertion and speed up the heartbeat based on the body's needs. In addition, if the heart fails critically, the pacemaker delivers an instant impulse that normalizes the heart.

Why undergo treatment in Germany?

There are several reasons why so many people choose to undergo atrial flutter treatment in Germany. Some of them are:

• The presence of specialized cardiology centers, specializing in the treatment of diseases provoking heart rhythm disorders.
• Consultation and treatment by the best cardiologists in Europe.
• The use of fundamentally new non-drug approaches in the treatment of atrial fibrillation in Germany.
• Modern equipment and research activities of hospitals that facilitate better diagnostics and treatment.
• High treatment success rates: 9 out of 10 patients completely get rid of atrial fibrillation.
• Excellent conditions of stay and a comforting atmosphere contribute to quicker recovery and emotional stability, which is extremely important in the treatment of cardiac diseases.

The cost of treatment in German hospitals

The cost of treatment in German hospitals is determined individually in each case according to the treatment method and stage of the disease. As a rule, only an average cost of treatment can be estimated. Very often the average amount includes ten days of planned inpatient treatment and rehabilitation at the first stage, but this principle is not universal and any related details need to be specified.

• The prices for diagnostics for atrial flutter start at 521 EUR.
• The cost of treatment with electroconvulsive therapy starts at 2,170 EUR.
• The cost of treatment with pacemaker implantation starts at 6,529 EUR.
• The cost of treatment with radiofrequency ablation starts at 6,928 EUR.
• The prices for cardiac rehabilitation start at 566 EUR.

And again, prices for atrial fibrillation treatment in Germany depend on many factors. So, if you want to get a free consultation on the subject of treatment in Germany and the cost of the treatment, contact us via the request form on the Booking Health website.

Treatment in German hospitals with Booking Health

If you want to know more about atrial flutter diagnostics and treatment in Germany and atrial fibrillation treatment, in particular, you have found a reliable source.

Booking Health will provide you with answers to any questions on choosing a clinic or doctor right now in any convenient way for you. In addition, we can arrange everything necessary to make your trip and treatment at the highest level, and the most comfortable for you. The medical company Booking Health provides the full range of services for arranging treatment of atrial fibrillation in Germany: selection of the best cardiological hospitals, preparation, and translation of necessary documentation, transfers from and to the airport, booking accommodation, and coordination of all stages of treatment.

All you need to do is leave your request on the Booking Health website, and our managers will contact you shortly.

Authors: Dr. Nadezhda Ivanisova, Dr. Farrukh Ahmed