Catheter Ablation

Catheter Ablation

In catheter ablation, a form of energy renders a small section of problem causing tissue inactive. This puts an end to arrhythmias that cardiac ablation, radiofrequency originated at the problematic site. ablation, or simply, ablation.

Normally, electricity flows through - The ablation process out the heart in a regular, meas - Like many cardiac procedures, ured pattern. This normally ablation no longer requires a full operating electrical system is the frontal chest opening (sternotomy). basis for coordinated heart muscle Rather, ablation is a relatively non- contractions. invasive procedure that involves in - serting catheters – narrow, flexible Sometimes, the electrical flow gets location causing the arrhythmia. wires – into a blood vessel in the blocked or travels the same path - During this “electrical mapping,” groin or neck, and advancing the ways repeatedly creating some - the cardiac arrhythmia specialist, wire into the heart. The journey thing of an electrical “short circuit” an electrophysiologist, may sedate from entry point to heart muscle is that disturbs normal heart rhythm. the patient and induce the very navigated by images created by a Medicine often helps. In some arrhythmias that are the crux of the fluoroscope, an x-ray-like machine cases, however, the most effective problem. The events are safe, that provides continuous, “live” im - treatment is to destroy the heart given the range of experts and ages of the catheters and the body. tissue housing the short circuit. resources close at hand, and are This procedure is called catheter Once the catheter reaches the necessary to identify the precise ablation. Catheter ablation is just heart, electrodes at the tip of the location of the problematic tissue. one of a number of terms used to catheter gather data and a variety Once the source of arrhythmia describe the non-surgical proce - of electrical measurements are is confirmed, energy is used to dure. Other common terms are: made. The data pinpoints the

did you An entire team of medical specialists work together to perform catheter ablation, led by the heart rhythm specialist or electrophysiologist. Nurses, lab technicians, and anesthesiologists know help ensure that the procedure is performed smoothly and safely. For many types of arrhythmias, catheter ablation is successful in 90-98% of cases.

destroy that tissue, ending the dis - When is catheter ablation Catheter ablation can also treat turbance of electrical flow through appropriate? heart rhythm disorders that begin the heart and restoring a healthy Many people have abnormal heart in the heart’s lower chambers, heart rhythm. This energy may rhythms (arrhythmias) that cannot (ventricles), such as ventricular take the form of radiofrequency be controlled with lifestyle changes tachycardia (VT), which can be a energy, which cauterizes or burns or medications. Some patients can - life-threatening arrhythmia. the tissue, or intense cold, which not or do not wish to take life-long For patients at risk for sudden freezes, or cryoablates the tissue. antiarrhythmic medications and cardiac death, ablation often is Other energy sources are being other drugs because of side effects used along with an implantable investigated. that interfere with their quality of life. cardioverter device (ICD). The Patients rarely report pain, more Catheter ablation is used to treat ablation decreases the frequency often describing what they feel as rapid heartbeats that begin in the of abnormal heart rhythms in the discomfort. Some watch much of upper chambers, or atria, of the ventricles and therefore reduces the procedure on monitors and oc - heart. As a group, these are know the number of ICD shocks a casionally ask questions. After the as supraventricular tachycardias, patient may experience. procedure, a patient remains still or SVTs. Types of SVTs are: For many types of arrhythmias, for four to six hours to ensure the catheter ablation is successful in vessel punctures seal up properly. • Atrial Fibrillation 90-98 percent of cases – thus Once mobile again, patients may • Atrial Flutter eliminating the need for open-heart feel stiff and achy from lying still surgeries or long-term drug thera - for hours. • AV Nodal Reentrant Tachycardia pies. • AV Reentrant Tachycardia or Wolf Parkinson White (WPW) Syndrome

• Atrial Tachycardia