Beware of stimulants used in cough and cold medications. Some of these medications contain ingredients that promote irregular heart rhythms. Read the label and ask your doctor or pharmacist what medication would be best for you. The ablation causes the heart rate to become very slow. Then a permanent pacemaker will be implanted to maintain an adequate heart rate.
Pacemakers primarily prevent the heart from beating too slowly.
Pacemakers are implanted after ablation of the AV node or in people with AF who have a slow heart rate. Some patients with AF are candidates for surgery known as the Maze procedure. During this procedure, several incisions are made in the right and left atria to confine the electrical impulses to defined pathways to reach the AV node. Copyright 2000 content, the Cleveland Clinic . The information provided by The Cleveland Clinic is not intended to replace the medical advice of your doctor or health-care provider.