What is arrhythmia ablation?
Ablation is a procedure to treat atrial fibrillation. It uses small burns or freezes to cause some scarring on the inside of the heart to help break up the electrical signals that cause irregular heartbeats. This can help the heart maintain a normal heart rhythm.
Does ablation cure arrhythmia?
Catheter ablation gets rid of heart arrhythmias like AFib, atrial flutter, and supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) for most people. But it could come back within a few years, especially if you’re: Older. Have another heart condition.
How is a catheter ablation performed for arrhythmia?
Catheter ablation is a treatment for cardiac arrhythmias. During ablation, a doctor inserts a catheter (thin, flexible tube) into the heart. A special machine delivers energy through the catheter to tiny areas of the heart muscle that cause the abnormal heart rhythm. This energy “disconnects” the pathway of the abnormal rhythm.
How dangerous is heart ablation?
With cardiac ablation, there can be risks associated with bleeding at the site where the catheter is inserted. The catheter can sometimes damage blood vessels as well. Other risks are a heart puncture and blood clots, which can cause a stroke or heart attack.
What to expect after having cardiac ablation?
After a cardiac ablation procedure, patients can expect soreness and oozing around the groin area. A catheter ablation involves threading catheters to the heart, through the vein, and fixing the problem. The puncture side needs to heal after a catheter ablation.
What can cause heart arrhythmia?
There are several things that can cause arrhythmia. Those causes can include: Stress. Genetics. Scarring of heart tissue from a prior heart attack. Changes to your heart’s structure, such as from cardiomyopathy . Blocked arteries in your heart (coronary artery disease) High blood pressure.
