Catheter ablation, or cardiac ablation, is a medical procedure used to treat some heart rate problems, also known as arrhythmias. A catheter, which is a long, thin, flexible tube, is usually inserted into a vessel in your arm, groin or neck and guided to your heart. Catheter ablation destroys abnormal tissue and clears the pathway for a normal heart rate to resume. You can usually exercise a few days after the procedure depending on how you feel and on the orders you receive from your doctor.
Rationale and Risks
An ablation may not be the first type of treatment recommended for an arrhythmia. A doctor may recommend the procedure when prescribed medications don't control an arrhythmia; you can't tolerate prescribed medications; you have certain types of arrhythmia where catheter ablation is your best treatment option; and you have a high risk of complications with an arrhythmia like ventricular fibrillation and sudden cardiac arrest. Risks associated with catheter ablation include bleeding, infection, pain, blood clots and puncture of the heart. Your doctor will talk to you about all the risks associated with this procedure.
Procedure
Catheter ablation is performed in the hospital and takes several hours. Before starting, you will be given medication to help you relax. During the procedure, a catheter is moved to the heart through a vessel in your arm, groin or neck. A special dye is usually injected through the catheter to help the doctor see which part of your heart needs to be treated. When the part of the heart responsible for the arrhythmia is located, a special machine sends energy through the catheter to abnormal heart tissue where it is scarred and destroyed. When the part of the heart responsible for an arrhythmia is scarred, there is a barrier between normal and abnormal heart tissue. This barrier may allow your heart to beat normally.
Recovery
After a catheter ablation you will be taken to a recovery room where you will lie still for four to six hours to prevent bleeding and undergo monitoring. You may go home after your recovery period or stay in the hospital overnight for further monitoring. Have someone drive you home after the procedure as medication and stiffness may make you unsafe. Recovery from a catheter ablation is usually quick. Most people are able to resume normal activities, which can include exercise, within a few days of having a catheter ablation.
Considerations
After having a catheter ablation, it is to your advantage to keep your heart healthy, which includes exercising regularly. Following your procedure, your doctor will discharge you with specific instructions about how to care for yourself and when to resume a normal level of physical activity. You can normally exercise a few days after the procedure but talk to the doctor for specifics. Contact the doctor if you have constant bleeding or signs of infection at the catheter insertion site, an irregular heart rate or dizziness.
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