AFib patient’s combined procedure restores heart rhythm

At 76 years old, Stephen Sullivan has always enjoyed staying active riding his motorcycle, traveling, and spending time with his wife of 50 years, Sarah. But over the last decade, an irregular heartbeat began to interfere with the life he loved.

“I woke up one morning and my heart was running about 160 beats a minute,” Stephen said. “They had to shock me to get it back into rhythm. Since then, I’ve had triple bypass surgery and stents put in. It’s been a long road.”

When Stephen learned about a new combined procedure option for treating atrial fibrillation (AFib) at Ascension St. Vincent’s Riverside, he was referred to Dr. Saumil Oza, a cardiologist and electrophysiologist who specializes in minimally invasive heart rhythm procedures.

“Dr. Oza explained everything clearly,” Stephen said. “He made me feel confident that this was the right move.”

Dr. Oza and his team are now performing two advanced AFib treatments at once, an approach that restores normal heart rhythm and reduces stroke risk in a single session. The first part of the procedure uses high-energy electrical pulses, rather than heat, to safely eliminate the irregular rhythm. The second involves placing a small device called a Watchman™ implant, which closes off the area of the heart where clots often form.

“This technique allows us to treat patients earlier and more safely,” Dr. Oza said. “Because we don’t need to use breathing tubes or make large incisions, the procedure is much less invasive. Patients are sedated with a simple mask, which minimizes discomfort and speeds recovery.”

Stephen’s procedure went smoothly, and within days, he was back to his usual routine. “It was painless,” he said. “After a couple of days of taking it easy, I felt great. No downtime at all.”

Dr. Oza and his team have already treated more than 1,000 patients using this innovative approach and expect to complete around 1,200 ablations this year. 

“The goal is to help people get their lives back with minimal disruption,” Dr. Oza said. “Seeing patients like Stephen return to doing what they love is what drives us.”

For Stephen, that care and compassion made all the difference. “The whole cardiac team at Ascension St. Vincent’s has been amazing,” he said. “They really care about you, and that’s what stands out. I feel better than I have in years.”

If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with atrial fibrillation, advanced care is close to home. The cardiology specialists at Ascension St. Vincent’s offer the latest in minimally invasive AFib treatment options.

Learn more or schedule an appointment with Dr. Saumil Oza.