Vicki Gunvalson's Daughter Briana Culberson Undergoes Surgery Due to Complications from Lupus

Vicki Gunvalson's daughter Briana Culberson is undergoing surgery after experiencing complications during her battle with lupus, her husband, Ryan Culberson, shared on Instagram Monday, April 2.

Ryan opened up about the health issues Briana has been experiencing after being diagnosed with lupus in 2016. "Her lupus is causing inflammation around her heart and is causing it to go in and out of irregular heart rhythms now requiring her to have a cardiac ablation," he captioned a photo of Briana in the hospital. 

A cardiac ablation is a procedure used to correct heart rhythm problems, or arrhythmias, by scarring or destroying tissue in the heart that's causing them. The procedure is usually done with catheters, but it can also be done through open-heart surgery. 

Ryan also asked fans for their support during this difficult time for Briana. "Please keep my wife in your thoughts and prayers!" he said on Instagram.

Photo: Ryan Culberson/Instagram

Ryan shared a video of himself and sons Troy and Owen on their way to visit Briana in the hospital in his Instagram Story. Photo: Ryan Culberson/Instagram

Vicki opened up about Briana's journey with lupus during an interview with The Daily Dish in July 2017. "You know, it's been hard on her. She really has been struggling with it," she shared. "So I'm just hopeful that she can continue the path of at least getting in remission or cure or whatever has to happen. But she's only 30, and she's just struggling with it." 

Briana has shared her health challenges with fans of The Real Housewives of Orange County over the years. She has undergone surgery on her thyroid, her leg, her neck, and has had enlarged lymph nodes removed.

Briana and Ryan have been making a new life for themselves in North Carolina after moving to the Tar Heel State last November. Vicki recently visited Briana and her family in their new home in March. 

See more of Briana's beautiful family, below.