Heart ablation, also known as cardiac ablation, is a procedure that is done to treat heart rhythm problems such as atrial fibrillation, atrial flutter and atrial tachycardia. Generally patients with heart arrhythmias have tried other courses of treatment such as medication or have had serious complications from the arrhythmias such as a heart attack, according to the MayoClinic.com.
The Procedure
According to the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute, patients are given IV medications to help them relax. During the procedure the patient is awake but should feel no severe pain or shortness of breath. The doctor numbs the area of the groin, arm or neck where the catheter will be inserted. The patient is attached to machines to monitor his heart's activity during the procedure. The catheter has an electrode at the end that is guided to the damaged part of the heart by the doctor. A painless radio frequency is emitted to the damaged area of the heart and kills the heart muscle cells in that area. This stops the extra impulses from the heart that cause a rapid heartbeat. The doctor then takes out the catheter and a bandage is placed over the site of where the catheter was inserted. Some patients may need to have the procedure done again if the problem is not corrected.
Recovery
Patients recover in the hospital and either go home the same day or stay in the hospital for up to three days, depending on the patient and how the procedure went, notes MayoClinic.com. The patient is required to lie still for four to six hours after the procedure so that the insertion site from the catheter does not bleed. The patient may feel sore for about a week after the ablation, but usually resumes her normal activities within a few days.
Risks
According to statistics from the American Heart Association, cardiac ablation has a success rate of over 90 percent with a low chance of complications. The National Heart Lung and Blood Institute reports that there are some risks including bleeding at the site of catheter insertion, puncture of the heart, damage to the heart's electrical system which will require the patient to have a pacemaker, narrowing of the arteries and blood clots. Patients who are at high risks are those who have diabetes, kidney disease or are over the age of 75.
