Definition of Cardiac ablation procedures :

Ablate means "to destroy." Cardiac ablation is a procedure that is used to destroy small areas in your heart that may be causing your heart rhythm problems.

During the procedure, small wires called electrodes are placed inside your heart to measure your heart's electrical activity. These electrodes may also be used to destroy the bad areas of your heart.

Description:

Cardiac ablation procedures are done in a hospital laboratory by specially trained staff. This includes cardiologists (heart doctors) trained in electrophysiology, technicians, and nurses. The setting is safe and controlled to make your risk as low as possible.

You will be given a mild sedative before the procedure to help you relax.

• The skin on your neck, arm, or groin will be cleaned well and made numb with an anesthetic.
• Next, the cardiologist will make a small cut in the skin.
• A small, flexible tube (catheter) will be inserted through this cut into one of the blood vessels in this area. The doctor uses live x-ray images to carefully guide the catheter up into your heart.

Once the catheter is in place, your doctor places small electrodes in different areas of your heart.

• These electrodes are connected to monitors that allow the cardiologist to tell what area in your heart is causing problems with your heart rhythm. Usually, there are one or more specific areas.
• Once the source of the problem has been found, one of the catheter lines is used to send electrical (or sometimes cold) energy to the problem area.
• This destroys the problem area, creating a small scar that causes the heart rhythm problem to stop.

Catheter ablation is a long procedure that can last 4 or more hours During the procedure your heart will be monitored closely. A nurse or doctor may ask you if you are having symptoms at different times during the procedure. Symptoms you may feel are:

• A brief burning when any medicines are injected
• A faster or stronger heartbeat
• Light-headedness
• Burning when the electrical energy is used

Why the Procedure Is Performed:

Cardiac ablation is used to treat certain heart rhythm problems that medicines are not controlling. These problems may be dangerous for you if they are not treated.

Common symptoms of heart rhythm problems may include:

• Chest pain
• Fainting
• Fast or slow heartbeat (palpitations)
• Light-headedness, dizziness
• Paleness
• Shortness of breath
• Skipping beats - changes in the pattern of the pulse
• Sweating

Some heart rhythm problems are:

• AV Nodal Reentrant Tachycardia (AVNRT)
• Accessory Pathway, such as Wolff-Parkinson-White Syndrome
• Atrial fibrillation and atrial flutter
• Ventricular tachycardia