Acupuncture and AF Post Heart Surgery

[Threecats]

Good morning

I came across this study in one of my newsfeeds this morning. I recall someone had recently asked about acupuncture for treating AF, so thought it worth posting here. Whilst this was only a small study specifically aimed at patients recovering from open heart surgery, I thought it interesting to note that AF occurrence post surgery was much reduced in the acupuncture group, as was their need to be given Amioderone post op. Whether this might indicate that acupuncture could be helpful for AF more generally I don’t know but it’s food for thought!

practiceupdate.com/content/...

[BobD Volunteer]

AF following open heart surgery is quite common I believe and know of at least three people who developed it post bypass surgery. My understanding is that the disturbance of the natural pathways is the cause, so any help is obviously a good thing.

[Rainfern]

Thank you Threecats. I’m not sure if I already mentioned, there are also studies suggesting recurrence of AF following ablation is also reduced with acupuncture using specific points.

[Threecats in reply to Rainfern]

That’s interesting Rainfern, thank you. I’ve not come across those so will look into it further. Always been interested in Chinese Medicine and the philosophy of it.

[Vonnegut]

I have just started having acupuncture with a lovely woman as it was recommended for helping with the chronic fatigue I acquired around the same time as the paroxysmal AF now controlled with Flecainide which comes with added fatigue! It’s early days still but it will be great if it does help and I’ll let you all know if it does though, of course, we are all different.

[Bankviewgal]

I tried acupuncture and went 4 or 5 times with no success. Sorry.