FAQ: Can Atrial Fibrillation (A-Fib) Be Treated With a Pacemaker?

Yes, atrial fibrillation is sometimes treated with a pacemaker.

In some people whose A-fib can't be managed with medications, cardiologists may suggest a procedure that permanently blocks the electrical connection between the upper and lower parts of the heart. This is called AV node ablation. Since this procedure eliminates the body's usual method of telling the heart to beat, the person then must get a pacemaker.

Although this approach tends to eliminate symptoms due to A-fib, it doesn't eliminate the risk of stroke, since the heart's upper chambers continue to fibrillate. For this reason, most A-fib patients with pacemakers still are treated with blood thinners.