Also known as a cardiac ablation or radiofrequency ablation, this procedure
guides a tube into your heart to destroy small areas of tissue that may be causing your abnormal heartbeat
. Not everyone with a heart arrhythmia needs a catheter ablation.
What is catheter ablation sometimes used to treat?
Catheter ablation is used to treat
certain types of arrhythmias
, or irregular heartbeats, that cannot be controlled by medicine or if you have a high risk for ventricular fibrillation (v-fib), sudden cardiac arrest, or atrial fibrillation.
How long does it take for a catheter ablation to work?
Many patients experience occasional episodes of atrial fibrillation during the first
three months
after left atrial catheter ablation even though they continue to take medications. This is because it may take three months for the scars to develop and the procedure to take full effect.
What is the success rate of catheter ablation?
When the procedure is repeated in patients who still have atrial fibrillation after the first procedure, the overall success rate is
approximately 85-90 percent
. Persistent atrial fibrillation can be eliminated in approximately 50 percent of patients with a single procedure.
Why do I need a catheter ablation?
An ablation is usually performed when
the arrhythmia is causing symptoms that interfere with the person’s quality of life
, such as stopping them from doing their job or normal daily activities, and when they haven’t responded to other treatments, such as medicines.
Do and don’ts after heart ablation?
Plan to have someone else drive you home after your procedure. Some people feel a little sore after the procedure. The soreness shouldn’t last more than a week. Most people
return to normal activities within a few days after
having cardiac ablation, but you should avoid any heavy lifting for about a week.
Will I feel better after heart ablation?
“The most extreme discomfort following cardiac ablation is usually limited to the standard side effects of anesthesia,” says Arkles. “Most people feel tired for a few hours after the waking up, but start to feel better once they can get up and walk around,
usually 3 to 4 hours later
.”
What can go wrong with catheter ablation?
Problems with cardiac ablation can include:
Bleeding or infection where the catheter went in
.
Damaged blood vessels if the catheter scrapes them
.
Arrhythmias caused by damage to your heart’s electrical system
.
Is cardiac ablation worth the risk?
Catheter ablation does have some serious risks, but
they are rare
. Many people decide to have ablation because they hope to feel much better afterward. That hope is worth the risks to them. But the risks may not be worth it for people who have few symptoms or for people who are less likely to be helped by ablation.
Does heart ablation shorten life span?
Summary: Easing heart palpitations is one benefit of catheter ablation.
A longer life span is another
. Study shows 60 drop in cardiovascular mortality after ablation for atrial fibrillation.
Has anyone died from heart ablation?
According to findings published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology,
early mortality after ablation occurred in 0.46% of patients with
AF, with 54.3% of deaths occurring during readmission.
What is the life expectancy after cardiac ablation?
This paralleled significant increases in the mean age of patients at time of ablation, and in the prevalence of comorbidities such as CHF, coronary artery disease, chronic lung disease, and chronic kidney disease. The
median time from ablation to death was 11.6 days
(interquartile range [IQR] 4.2–22.7).
Are you awake during cardiac ablation?
For some ablations, you will be under general anesthesia and on a breathing machine temporarily; for others
you may be only lightly sedated and more awake
. Your doctor and anesthesiologist will determine the best type of anesthesia to give you during your procedure.
Is there an age limit for cardiac ablation?
Our physicians perform catheter ablations on patients of advanced age –
up to 90
– with similar results to those of younger age. However, as age advances, patient selection becomes more critical. There is nothing inherent to the catheter ablation procedure that causes undue risk on an older individual.
What happens if ablation doesnt work?
Ablation has risks, although they are rare. They include stroke and death. If ablation doesn’t work the first time,
you may choose to have it done again
.
Is a pacemaker better than ablation?
Conclusions: In patients with paroxysmal AF-related tachycardia-bradycardia syndrome,
AF ablation seems to be superior to a strategy of pacing
plus AAD. Pacemaker implantation can be waived in the majority of patients after a successful ablation.
