Croatia top in Europe in ablation surgeries per capita

Croatia tops EU in ablation surgeries 

ZAGREB, 23 Nov (Hina) – Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most frequent heart arrhythmia, and one of the five most common causes for hospitalisation when it comes to cardiovascular diseases, it was said in Zagreb on Tuesday on the occasion of observing AF awareness week from 20 to 26 November.

The treatment of patients with AF can be successful with ablation surgeries, and these surgeries have increased tenfold over the last ten years, it was said at a meeting of a task force in charge of addressing the issues of arrhythmia and electrical stimulation of the heart.

The conference was organised by the Croatian Society of Cardiology and the Rhythm of Heart association.

AF cannot be cured, but surgeries and medication can help patients have a normal heart rhythm over the years.

So far this year, there have been 3,068 ablation surgeries in Croatia. In terms of the number of such surgeries per one million inhabitants, Croatia and Czechia are the top performers among the European Union’s central and eastern members, said doctor Šime Manola.

The doctor said that the costs per ablation procedure in Croatia are much lower than in many other countries and the Croatian Health Insurance Agency (HZZO) ensures additional funds for more complex ablation procedures.

The gravest complication of AF can be a stroke, it was said.