Patrick Mackey

Cardiac Mapping Procedure

Patrick Mackey and his wife, Laurie, looked forward to an active and enjoyable retirement when they moved to Florida. But soon, Patrick began having difficulty breathing and struggled with simple tasks like walking and climbing stairs.

Doctors determined Patrick had atrial fibrillation (AF). Atrial fibrillation is the world's most common cardiac arrhythmia, affecting more than 2.2 million Americans and millions of people worldwide. Atrial fibrillation occurs when the heart's upper chambers beat erratically, which keeps the heart from pumping blood efficiently. With AF, blood clots may form, leading to an increased risk of stroke. Many patients find their quality of life seriously compromised.

Patrick's doctors selected St. Jude Medical's EnSite® System to perform an electrophysiology (EP) procedure. The EnSite System provided Patrick's doctor with a real-time 3-D graphic image of his heart and its electrical activity. His physician used this information to help control catheter navigation during the procedure and treat his arrhythmia.

Within weeks of Patrick's procedure, his stamina returned and he resumed his active lifestyle. Today, Patrick enjoys swimming, golfing and biking, while cherishing time with his wife, children and grandchildren. For Patrick, retirement is truly turning out to be the golden years.