A Life-Saving Discovery of a Rare Tumor Led to a Life-Changing Afib Treatment

What began as routine care for atrial fibrillation became an opportunity for a more lasting solution. After 14 years of living with Afib, Gloria Lawless arrived for a cardioversion treatment, but an additional scan revealed a rare tumor hidden in her heart. This discovery changed her treatment plan and gave doctors a unique chance to treat her irregular heart rhythm directly.

During open-heart surgery to remove the atrial myxoma, surgeons also performed a Cox-Maze procedure to treat Gloria’s Afib. This procedure blocked the abnormal electrical signals that cause Afib but kept her heart’s normal rhythm working. Because she was already having surgery, the team could fix both issues at once by removing the tumor and helping her chances for long-term rhythm control.

Gloria felt better from the Afib treatment almost right away. Within a day, she was walking the halls and breathing more easily than she had in months. Now she’s working toward skydiving for the first time as part of her 70th birthday celebration.

For people who have lived with Afib for years, Gloria’s story shows that surgical ablation to treat Afib can do more than fix a heartbeat. It can help people get back to living their lives.

Learn more about the importance of Afib treatment: https://www.atricure.com/patients-caregivers/atrial-fibrillation/importance-of-treatment

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