Cardiac Ablation
Overview:
- Purpose: Ablation is a nonsurgical procedure used to correct arrhythmias (irregular heartbeats).
- Types: It may be referred to as catheter ablation, radiofrequency ablation, or cryoablation.
Procedure
- Sedation: You will be sedated by intravenous medication but remain awake.
- Process:
- Show Full Answer
Cardiac Ablation
Overview:
- Purpose: Ablation is a nonsurgical procedure used to correct arrhythmias (irregular heartbeats).
- Types: It may be referred to as catheter ablation, radiofrequency ablation, or cryoablation.
Procedure:
- Sedation: You will be sedated by intravenous medication but remain awake.
- Process:
- A small hole is made in the groin with a needle.
- A thin, flexible guide wire is inserted.
- A sheath catheter is threaded through the artery into the heart.
- Electrode catheters are used to identify and target areas causing abnormal rhythms.
- The targeted cells are destroyed using:
- Radiofrequency (heat energy)
- Cryoablation (cold)
- Electrical cauterization
Goals:
- Target Areas: Small areas of tissue responsible for sending electrical signals that control heart rhythm.
- Outcome: By destroying and scarring these areas, normal heart rhythms can be restored.
Considerations:
- Success Rate: While initially successful, there is a chance that arrhythmias can recur, and the procedure might need to be repeated.
Sources:
- [MyHeartDiseaseTeam - Ablation for Heart Disease](https://www.MyHeartDiseaseTeam.com/treatments/a...)
- [Mayo Clinic - Cardiac Ablation](http://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/card...)
- [MedlinePlus - Cardiac Ablation Procedures](https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/007368.htm)
- [American Heart Association - Ablation for Arrhythmias](http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/Conditions/Arrhyt...)
- [Cleveland Clinic - Catheter Ablation](http://my.clevelandclinic.org/services/heart/se...)
Feel free to ask if you have more questions about cardiac ablation!
July 14