What is Cardiac Ablation?

Cardiac ablation is a minimally invasive procedure used to treat heart rhythm disorders (arrhythmias).

 

The most common condition treated with ablation is atrial fibrillation, an arrhythmia that causes the heartbeat to be:

• Fast

• Irregular

• Disorganized

Common symptoms include:

• Palpitations

• Shortness of breath

• Fatigue and reduced exercise tolerance

• Dizziness or light-headedness

 

In atrial fibrillation, abnormal electrical impulses usually originate from the pulmonary veins (the veins that carry blood from the lungs to the heart).
The goal of ablation is to isolate these areas or eliminate the abnormal electrical circuits, restoring a normal and regular heart rhythm.

 

How is Atrial Fibrillation Ablation Performed?

Ablation is a non-surgical procedure that does not require opening the chest. It is performed in a specialized electrophysiology laboratory.

 

Main steps of the procedure:

1. Preparation and anesthesia

   • The procedure may be performed under local anesthesia with sedation or general anesthesia, depending on the case.

   • The patient does not feel pain and is continuously monitored.

2. Venous access

   • Thin catheters are inserted through a vein in the groin and gently advanced to the heart.

3. Electrical mapping

   • Advanced 3D mapping technology creates a detailed map of the heart’s electrical activity to locate the areas responsible for the arrhythmia.

4. Ablation treatment

   • The catheters deliver radiofrequency energy (heat) or cryoenergy (freezing) to create tiny, controlled scars that block abnormal electrical signals.

   • In atrial fibrillation, treatment primarily focuses on isolating the pulmonary veins.

5. Procedure verification

   • The doctor confirms that the abnormal signals have been successfully eliminated and that the arrhythmia cannot be re-triggered.

6. Catheter removal

   • The catheters are removed and the access site is gently compressed or medicated. No major visible scars remain.

 

Procedure duration: typically 1 to 2 hours, depending on complexity.

 

After the Procedure

• Usually requires overnight monitoring in the hospital (about 24 hours)

• Most patients resume normal daily activities within a few days

• Temporary palpitations may occur during the first weeks as the heart heals

• Follow-up visits are scheduled to monitor results

• In some cases, medication may continue for a period after the procedure

 

Benefits of Atrial Fibrillation Ablation

-Reduces or eliminates arrhythmia episodes
-Improves quality of life
-Reduces palpitations, fatigue, and shortness of breath
-Decreases the need for antiarrhythmic medications
-Helps prevent long-term weakening of heart function