Since freezing is being used to treat AF in patients — a treatment that is quickly gaining momentum — it only makes sense that someone would try to use heat energy, too. That is exactly what the UC-San Diego Sulpizio Cardiovascular Center is doing now.

Heat energy or radio frequency waves are being used to irreversibly change the heart tissue that causes the abnormal heart rhythm that characterizes AF. This is done with doctors using a device interestingly-named the Thermacool SF catheter, an FDA-approved outpatient procedure that is used to treat paroxysmal AF in its early stage when the symptoms recur and don’t respond well to other treatments.

According to an article on sciencedaily.com, The Thermacool SF catheter works by delivering “a cooling saline solution through the catheter, allowing for cooling of the entire catheter tip. Thus, the tip temperature does not rise significantly during ablation, which reduces the risk for clotting, and enhances treatment safety.” It is an outpatient procedure that takes between 2-4 hours to complete. Patients are often home within 24 hours after the procedure is finished. It is believed to provide a long-term reduction in how many arrhythmias AF patients have and lessen the symptom severity. The best case scenario for the treatment is that patients will not experience more heart rhythm episodes at all.

Heat energy is just another option in the line of AF treatments, which include catheter ablations and prescription medications like Multaq. Multaq has been linked to serious side effects including liver failure, worsening of the heart condition and, in some cases, death. Because of these side effects, the FDA is now recommending that the drug only be used in cases where other medications fail to work.

If you or a loved one has developed liver failure or a worsening of your heart condition after taking Multaq, contact the attorneys at Greg Jones today for a free consultation. We are experienced at fighting Multaq lawsuits and may be able to help you recover money for your injuries