All Things Afib

My guest today is Dr. Christian Shults, the Co-Director of Aortic Surgery, the Director of Surgical Ablation, and the Director of Innovation at Medstar Heart and Vascular Institute in Washington DC. In addition to coronary bypass and valve surgery, Dr. Shults has developed significant expertise in complex open and endovascular aortic surgery, as well as transcatheter valve therapy and minimally in...

Attention all providers: This episode may be one of the most important and valuable discussions you will hear all year.  Get ready to have many of your preconceptions challenged and your understanding considerably deepened– about what your patients experience before, during, and after their AFib diagnosis and treatment. My illuminating discussion today is with Ms. Mellanie True Hills, who was...

Today I’m speaking with Dr. Thomas A. Dewland, an EP with a focus on atrial fibrillation epidemiology (the study of which populations are affected by certain diseases and why). His goal is to identify ways to prevent atrial fibrillation before it occurs. Dewland earned his medical degree at the Yale School of Medicine. Currently at UC San Francisco, he has authored over 80 peer-reviewed papers.&nb...

Have you wondered about the pros and cons of using cryoablation or a cryoballoon therapy to manage AFib?  Join me for a fascinating discussion with Dr. Arash Aryana about the approaches available, and the varying successes of outcomes that EPs can achieve using cryoablation alone or in combination with other modalities.  Dr. Aryana is a cardiac electrophysiologist located in Sacramento....

Today our guest is Dr. Niv Ad, and we are discussing his Annals of Thoracic Surgery paper, Surgical Treatment for Stand-Alone Atrial Fibrillation in North America by Niv Ad, et al. As an internationally renowned leader in cardiothoracic surgery, Dr. Ad is known for his long-time involvement in minimally invasive cardiac surgical procedures. Dr. Ad attended medical school at the Sackler School of M...

Dr. Marc Gerdisch is my guest for this episode. Dr. Gerdisch is currently the Chief of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery at Franciscan Health in Indianapolis, IN, and owner of Cardiac Surgery Associates in Downers Grove, Illinois, just outside Chicago.  During the last 21 years, Dr. Gerdisch has performed more than 5,000 innovative surgical procedures, of which 3,500 involved heart valve op...

Today I’m speaking with Dr. Nitesh Sood, an electrophysiologist who is board-certified in internal medicine and holds certifications in echocardiography, nuclear medicine, and cardiovascular disease.  Dr. Sood is currently the Director of the Atrial Fibrillation Wellness Program at Southcoast Physicians Group in Dartmouth, Massachusetts. Dr. Sood was selected as “Star Fellow” “Fellow Elite in...

I’m speaking with Dr. Patrick M. McCarthy, a Board Certified Thoracic and Cardiac Surgeon, currently the Executive Director of the Bluhm Cardiovascular Institute, and Chief of Cardiac Surgery at the Feinberg School of Medicine at Northwestern.  His list of honors and awards is extensive, and his focus and specialties include: Valve Repair/Replacement Mitral Valve Repair Atrial Fibrillation Su...

Welcome to the first episode of “All Things AFib.” I am your host, Dr. Armin Kiankhooy. As a board-certified cardiothoracic surgeon, my focus is on advanced treatments for heart and lung failure and minimally-invasive surgical treatments for atrial fibrillation such as the Hybrid Maze procedure. You can find me on staff at Adventist Health Heart and Vascular Institute in St. Helena California.&nbs...