Two free health education seminars in May and September at Ingham Regional Medical Center have resulted in referrals for dozens of patients considering an innovative, minimally invasive surgical approach to atrial fibrillation (afib). This condition causes the heart’s chambers to beat rapidly and out of sync.

The seminars drew more than 600 people and featured Mellanie True Hills, the founder of StopAfib.org, who underwent the procedure, and two physicians who have made IRMC a national leader in the procedure.

Instead of less successful methods—including open-heart surgery—cardiovascular and thoracic surgeon Divyakant Gandhi, M.D., makes small incisions between the ribs. Using a radio frequency device, he then scars the surface of both atria to interrupt and prevent the abnormal electrical impulses that cause afib. In a unique partnership, cardiac electrophysiologist John Ip, M.D., immediately verifies there are no gaps in the scarring.

Of 97 patients who underwent the procedure since July 2007, 90 percent are free of afib, with no afib-related symptoms, medications, or hospitalizations. “Their symptoms disappear, and there’s a significant improvement in their quality of life,” says Dr. Gandhi.

For instance, John Frisch, age 68, who underwent the procedure in August 2008, runs four miles nearly every day. Last August, 4 months after his procedure, Mitchell Jacque, age 80, won his age category in an 800-meter freestyle race at the U.S. Masters Swimming championships.

For more information, contact Ingham Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgeons at 517-483-4780 or visit www.irmc.org/stopafib.