Newswise — DENVER – On Tuesday, February 26, Dr. Sri Sundram, an elctrophysiologist with Porter Adventist Hospital, will discuss a new procedure being used at Porter Hospital that cures atrial fibrillation, or “a-fib,” the leading cause of stroke in the United States.

A-fib, a condition that causes fast or irregular heartbeats, affects one out of every four Americans and quintuples a person’s risk of stroke. Where once patients had to rely on antiarrhythmic drugs to manage a-fib, medication was only effective in 30 to 60 percent of the patient population.

Today, a new procedure known as a-fib ablation, a procedure that literally zaps the heart with energy to disconnect faulty rhythms, offers hope those who do not respond well to medication. While there are risks associated with ablation, including stroke and puncturing the heart, the procedure has also been credited with curing a-fib in 70 percent of patients and extending a person’s life by as much as seven years.

Dr. Sundram will present more about the risks, benefits and outlooks for a-fib ablation at “A Cure for Artial Fibrillation” in the Porter Hospital Conference Center from 6-7 p.m. on Tuesday, February 26. The presentation is free to the public but does require registration by calling 303-777-6877.

About Porter Adventist Hospital:

Porter Adventist Hospital is a full service, Nursing Magnet® designated, 368-bed acute-care referral center for complex medicine and surgery patients. Porter specializes in cancer care, joint replacement, heart and vascular procedures, spinal surgery, advanced robotic surgery and organ transplants. Porter is sponsored by Adventist Health System and is part of Centura Health, Colorado’s largest hospital and health care network. Centura Health’s integrated network includes 14 hospitals, seven senior living communities, medical clinics, affiliated partner hospitals, Flight For Life® Colorado, 13 Colorado Health Neighborhoods and home care and hospice services. For more information on Porter Adventist Hospital, visit porterhospital.org or follow the hospital on Twitter @PorterHospital or facebook.com/PorterAdventistHospital.