Cardiac Ablation Procedures

A cardiac ablation is performed when a patient’s abnormally high heart rate has not responded to medication therapy or a cardioversion—a small electric shock delivered at low-voltage and used to correct cardiac arrhythmias. The ablation carries serious risks, and the patient will need strict monitoring for several hours after the procedure.

Preparation

Both sides of the groin area are washed and shaved by hospital personnel in preparation for insertion of the cardiac catheters through the pulmonary veins leading to the heart. The area of insertion is anesthetized and a small incision made.

Ablation

Two catheters inserted on each side of the groin are passed through the pulmonary blood vessels to the heart, according to the Cleveland Clinic. One catheter locates the area of the heart that is causing the abnormal rhythms. Another catheter is capable of delivering energy, which will cauterize the cells of the area of the heart responsible for the rapid heartbeat. This search and cauterizing procedure repeats for each of the four pulmonary blood vessels and may last three to four hours. In the event that the ablation slows the heart too much, a pacemaker will be inserted at that point, according to Brigham and Women’s Hospital, and the procedure can extend to five or six hours.

Post-procedure

After the ablation, the patient is moved to a cardiac monitoring specialty unit and the catheters removed. Typically, a patient remains horizontal for several hours following the ablation to prevent abnormal bleeding complications. The post-procedure personnel monitor the patient closely and take vital signs every 15 minutes for one hour, then every 30 minutes for one hour and finally, every hour for four hours. In most cases, the patient returns home the same day. If the patient has received a pacemaker, he can expect to remain in the hospital for an additional 24 hours.