A recent small study discovered that patients who develop atrial fibrillation (AF) after transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) may be more likely to have a stroke.

The possibility of having a stroke is one of the biggest fears linked to TAVI because strokes occur in about 4 percent, which is the highest link reported in interventional cardiology. This is according to Dr. Ignacio J Amat-Santos of the Quebec Heart and Lung Institute in Quebec City, as well as his colleagues. The information from this study has been posted online in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.

The second author of the study, Dr. Josep Rodes-Cabau (also of the Quebec Heart and Lung Institute) has said that as well as patients with AF developing cardioembolic events, that is not all the study revealed.

“First of all, AF is even more frequent than we thought,” he said. “The arrhythmia occurred in almost a third of the 138 consecutive TAVI patients they examined. Second, there were two main predictors of AF — the size of the left atrium and the fact that those undergoing TAVI using the transapical approach also had a higher risk of AF — both of which are perhaps not surprising.”

Rodes-Cabau does go on to explain that the stroke is the key even if the number of reported cases were small. This news mostly makes the study mean more in terms of providing questions than answers, but it might just show that AF is a significant mechanism that will show that at least some of the strokes happen after TAVI procedures.

Strokes have long been a problem for AF patients. There have been many medications prescribed with the intentions of cutting down the incidents of strokes. For a time, Multaq was viewed by patients and healthcare professionals alike as one of the wonderful medications to help treat AF patients. However, testing proved that Multaq also caused liver failure and worsening heart conditions. In the end, Multaq was shown to be as dangerous as the AF itself.

If you or a loved one have developed liver failure or worsening heart condition after taking Multaq, contact attorney Greg Jones today for a free consultation. I am experienced fighting Multaq lawsuits and may be able to help you recover money for your injuries.