Cardiac Ablation

Quick facts about Cardiac Ablation

  • Cardiac ablation is a surgical procedure used to correct heart rhythm problems (arrhythmias). 

  • Certain types of arrythmia respond well to ablation.

  • It may also be recommended when medication hasn’t worked or cases where there is a high-risk of complications from the arrhythmia.

  • A catheter is inserted through a vein or artery in your groin and threaded to your heart.

  • Either heat (radiofrequency) or extreme cold (cryoablation) will be used to create a scar or destroy the tissue that triggers your arrhythmia.

  • Cardiac ablation usually takes 3-6 hours to complete.

About cardiac ablation

  •  Cardiac ablation is a surgical procedure used to correct heart rhythm problems (arrhythmias). 

  • It works by destroying the tissue in your heart that either triggers or suffers from the abnormal rhythm.

  • In some cases, it can stop the abnormal electrical signal from entering the heart altogether.

Why you need it 

  • When your heart beats, electrical impulses cause it to contract. These impulses must follow a precise pathway through your heart.

  • When these impulses are interrupted, it can cause an abnormal heartbeat (arrhythmia).

  • These are dangerous because they prevent your heart from pumping blood around your body as efficiently as it should; and can lead to other serious health risks.

Cardiac ablation may be a treatment option if you:

  • Have already tried taking medication to treat your arrythmia and it didn’t work 

  • Experience serious side effects from these medications

  • Have a certain type of arrhythmias that respond well to ablation (eg Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome and supraventricular tachycardia)

  • Have a high risk of serious complications from your arrhythmia (eg sudden cardiac arrest)

What’s involved

  • Cardiac ablation is sometimes done through open-heart surgery, but most often through a small incision in your groin.

  • Before your cardiac ablation, tests will be done to work out what’s causing your arrythmia and work out the most effective treatment.

  • For the procedure, a long flexible tube (catheter) is inserted through a vein or artery in your groin and threaded to your heart.

  • The catheter has electrodes at the tip for sending electrical impulses to your heart and record the electrical activity. 

  • Either heat (radiofrequency) or extreme cold (cryoablation) will travel through the catheter tip to create a scar or destroy the tissue that triggers your arrhythmia. 

  • In some cases, ablation blocks the electrical signals traveling through your heart to stop the abnormal rhythm and allow signals to travel over a normal pathway instead. 

  • Cardiac ablation usually takes three to six hours to complete, but complicated procedures may take longer. 

Risks of cardiac ablation

As with any surgical procedure, cardiac ablation carries a risk of complications. We will evaluate your condition and discuss all the risks prior to surgery.  

Your recovery

 After cardiac ablation, you’ll recover in hospital from the surgery. Your heartbeat and blood pressure will be monitored continuously.

 You may be able to go home the same day depending on your condition and return to your normal activities within a few days.

 Some people need repeat procedures and you may also need to continue your medications, even after you've had ablation.