The NJ Police Chief Magazine - Vol. 27, Number 1 | Page 17

Ask the Physician
The New Jersey Police Chief Magazine | July/August 2020
I have been getting heart palpitations lately, and went to my cardiologist. He told me that I have atrial
fibrillation and need to take care of it. I’m very nervous about a procedure. What do you recommend?
Francis, Long Branch
Francis, I understand your nervousness, but let me reassure you.
First, do not ignore your atrial fibrillation. If your cardiologist wants it addressed you need to follow through. Heart
arrhythmias can cause problems if left untreated. The good news, however, is that there are many ways to manage
these conditions, including cardiac catheter ablation, which is a procedure that delivers a precise dose of radio
frequency energy to the heart muscle, regulating the electrical signals.
Ablation is very safe, with a short procedure time and low exposure to X-rays. Since it’s minimally-invasive you have
a greatly reduced risk of complications to your heart tissue.
If you need more information, our specialists at Deborah Heart and Lung Center, which has performed over 2,000
robotic cardiac ablations, can give you detailed information.
Call 855-646-3484 or visit www.DemandDeborah.org to learn more.
Raffaele Corbisiero, MD
Chair, Electrophysiology Department
Deborah Heart and Lung Center
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