Cardiac Ablation
What is cardiac ablation?
Cardiac ablation is a surgical procedure used to correct heart rhythm problems (arrhythmias). It works by destroying the tissue in your heart that either triggers or suffers from the abnormal rhythm. In some cases, it can stop the abnormal electrical signal from entering the heart altogether.
Why do I need cardiac ablation?
When your heart beats, electrical impulses cause it to contract. These impulses must follow a precise pathway through your heart. When these impulses are interrupted, it can cause an abnormal heartbeat (arrhythmia). These are dangerous because they prevent your heart from pumping blood around your body as efficiently as it should; and can lead to other serious health risks.
Cardiac ablation may be a treatment option if you:
Have already tried taking medication to treat your arrythmia and it didn’t work
Experience serious side effects from these medications
Have a certain type of arrhythmias that respond well to ablation (eg Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome and supraventricular tachycardia)
Have a high risk of serious complications from your arrhythmia (eg sudden cardiac arrest)
What’s involved in the cardiac ablation procedure?
Cardiac ablation is sometimes done through open-heart surgery, but most often through a small incision in your groin. This is the preferred method as the procedure is less invasive and the recovery time is shorter. Before your cardiac ablation, tests will be done to work out what’s causing your arrythmia and work out the most effective treatment.
For the procedure, a long flexible tube (catheter) is inserted through a vein or artery in your groin and threaded to your heart. The catheter has electrodes at the tip for sending electrical impulses to your heart and record the electrical activity.
Either heat (radiofrequency) or extreme cold (cryoablation) will travel through the catheter tip to create a scar or destroy the tissue that triggers your arrhythmia. In some cases, ablation blocks the electrical signals traveling through your heart to stop the abnormal rhythm and allow signals to travel over a normal pathway instead.
Cardiac ablation usually takes three to six hours to complete, but complicated procedures may take longer.
What are the risks of cardiac ablation?
As with any surgical procedure, cardiac ablation carries a risk of complications. We will evaluate your condition and discuss all the risks prior to surgery.
What will my recovery be like after cardiac ablation?
After cardiac ablation, you’ll recover in hospital from the surgery. Your heartbeat and blood pressure will be monitored continuously. You may be able to go home the same day depending on your condition and return to your normal activities within a few days.
Some people need repeat procedures and you may also need to continue your medications, even after you've had ablation.