Three years ago John Frisch noticed his heart was having sporadic episodes of arrhythmia.

Frisch, now 68, had been suffering from atrial fibrillation, or an abnormal rhythm of the electrical system of the heart that causes rapid beating of the upper chambers of the heart.

Atrial fibrillation disrupts the heart's ability to effectively pump and complications can be threatening. Essentially, the heart in atrial fibrillation is overworked and over time, the stress can increase the likelihood of stroke fivefold, while doubling risk of death.

A marathon runner and jogger for several years, Frisch was otherwise in good health.

"At first I didn't know what was going on, but I could definitely tell my heart wasn't beating properly," Frisch said. "It was strange and certainly a little scary."

Frisch compared the atrial fibrillation to a bowl of jello.

"You shake the jello and that's what your heart is doing," Frisch said. "It's out of rhythm."

After seeing his primary physician, Frisch was referred to cardiologist Dr. Ellen Kehow from the Thoracic Cardiac Institute in Mt. Pleasant where various medications were tried and were unable to keep the A-Fib under control.

Frisch spent two years in and out of the A-Fib.

Following this, Frisch was referred by Kehoe to the Ingham Medical Center and cardiothoracic surgeon, Dr. Divyakant B. Gandhi and electro physiologist, Dr. John H. Ip.

Drs. Gandhi and Ip are working together to perform a revolutionary minimally invasive procedure to treat atrial fibrillation.

The new procedure involves, in part, making small incisions in both the right and left sides of the chest to acess the pulmonary veins that drain blood into the left side of the heart. This causes a blockade of abnormal impulses that trigger A-Fib.

"This procedure has resulted in successful treatment of a vast majority of our patients who have followed for a median period of 14 months," Gandhi said. "Along with isolation of the veins, we also search for and ablate nerve pathways that may be responsible for initiation and maintenance of atrial fibrillation."

Benefits of this new procedure include:

Done through small incisions resulting in a quicker recovery with shortened hospital stay.

Done on a beating heart without cardiopulminary bypass.

Reliable, complete electrical scars resulting in successful ablation in 90 percent of patients followed for a median period of 14 months.

Reliable ablation of nerve pathways.

Allows excision of the left atrial appendage resulting in reduction in the incidence of stroke. Atrial Fibrillation is responsible for 15 to 20 percent of all strokes, with the incidence in relation to A-Fib rising. Some athorities attribute 50 percent incidence.

Within three months, a vast majority of the patients are off medications that control the heart rate. These medications can have significant, long-term side effects. Within six months, most patients with successful ablation have been off anti-coagulants, which - although helpful - can have debilitating side effects.

In order to be chosen as a patient for this new procedure, Frisch had to meet certain criteria.

"Not all patients with atrial fibrillation are candidates for this procedure," Gandhi said. "Therefore, careful selection is paramount to success. We select patients who are very symptomatic from this condition. The symptoms include shortness of breath, chest pain and palpitations, fatigue, dizziness, an occasional fainting attack, and a feeling of impending doom."

"Through various medical tests, we make sure the patient does not have any other underlying heart condition, including significant valvular disease or coronary artery disease. We avoid patients who are well-controlled with medication and/or do not have any symptoms. We also make sure patients have failed at least two medications used to correct the rhythm."

Frisch was a good candidate for the procedure.

"Mr. Frisch is a very pleasant young gentleman, and also an ardent athlete with recurrent episodes of atrial fibrillation. His symptoms were so significant; he could not pursue his hobby effectively. He underwent the above-mentioned procedure and has had a successful outcome, is off medications, and has effectively resumed his extra-curricular activities without difficulty," Gandhi said.

After undergoing the two-and-a-half hour procedure in August 2008, Frisch was hospitalized for three days.

In addition to having the procedure done, Frisch is also a part of a group of 16 selected patients to be used for Drs. Gandhi and Ip's research project.

"I'm used as a resource for any individuals who want information on the procedure," Frisch said.

To be a part of the 16-month research process, Frisch had to have a loop monitor implanted on the right side of his chest.

If Frisch feels anything irregular, he places a hand monitor over the loop monitor and that picks up any irregular impulses from the heart.

Once a week Frisch calls Ingham Medical Center to get results from the loop monitor.

"As of the last 14 months I have had no irregularities and continued my normal activities and am not on any medications," Frisch said. "Anything you can do to get out of A-Fib and start living a normal life is what we want and that's what I've been able to do. It's all about quality of life."

Mt. Pleasant resident Mitch Jacque has also been the recipient of this new procedure.

Jacque, 80, had also been suffering from atrial fibrillation for a number of years.

A nationally recognized swimmer, Jacque was debilitated by persistent atrial fibrillation and referred to Drs. Gandhi and Ip for the new procedure, which he underwent April 17.

"It was a good procedure and I was back to my normal activities relatively soon," Jacque said.

Anyone with questions on the new procedure may call Frisch at 989-289-0045.