First patient to receive ablation for AFib at Piedmont Henry restores Stockbridge man to health

Stockbridge, Ga. (February 6, 2026) - Atrial fibrillation (AFib) occurs when electrical signals in the heart cause an irregular heart rhythm. There are several different types of AFib, some where the symptoms come and go and others that are more permanent. Hugh Rogers, a Stockbridge resident who had open heart surgery for another condition in 2004, was diagnosed with atrial fibrillation in 2017, but had no episodes until 2025.

One way to treat AFib is with controlled electric shocks to restore the heart’s natural rhythms. Rogers was scheduled to have this procedure done at Piedmont Henry, but his heart went back to a natural rhythm on its own and the procedure was cancelled. To prevent further issues, an ablation procedure was discussed. This could be performed at Piedmont Henry in November when a new electrophysiology lab was scheduled to open. Rogers was the first patient to have the procedure at the hospital, and everything went perfectly.

“I was a little nervous – this was my heart after all – but everyone assured me I would be fine,” Rogers said. “There were a lot of people in the operating room with me and I was treated like a king.”

Ablation procedures previously used to freeze or burn the tissue to create electrical blocks. Piedmont Henry invested in the latest equipment to upgrade the electrophysiology lab and allow for pulse field ablation to create small holes in cell membranes to destroy certain areas of heart tissue and create a wall around other tissue to restore normal rhythm.

“I’ve performed these procedures in Atlanta for many years, where cardiothoracic surgery was nearby if something went wrong,” said Akshay Gupta, M.D., a cardiologist specializing in cardiac electrophysiology. “As the safety of the procedure has increased, it is able to be offered at Piedmont Henry, which is great for our community and local patients.”

Dr. Gupta stated that it was likely that most people know someone affected by AFib. It can be caused by many things including hypertension and sleep apnea, as well as obesity and simply getting older. Symptoms can include dizziness, heart palpitations, fatigue, and chest pain.

Rogers was told to take it easy for a few days after his procedure. He was a little nervous when he walked his dog or rode his exercise bike, watching his heart rate closely, but his follow-up appointment showed that everything looked good.

“It may be gone forever,” said Rogers, who added that he continues to keep his appointments with his cardiologists. “I see my cardiologist Dr. (Rajasekhar) Reddy and Dr. Gupta every three months and always take my medicine. I don’t want to go anywhere else.”

To learn more about Piedmont’s cardiology programs, services, and providers, visit piedmont.org/heart.