Who is associated with the ablation technique

How do I prepare for an ablation? Your doctor might order some tests before your procedure. These might include: Electrocardiogram ECG , to analyze the heart rhythm Echocardiography Echo , to evaluate heart structure and function Stress testing, to see how the heart responds to exercise Blood tests for example, to test thyroid levels Cardiac catheterization or coronary angiography, to get more information about the coronary arteries Cardiac CT or MRI, to further evaluate your heart anatomy Let your doctor know if you are pregnant before having the procedure.

What happens during ablation? During the procedure: You may have a local anesthetic numbing medicine applied to your skin where the team will make a small incision usually in your groin. Or, you may receive a general anesthetic numbing medicine with a breathing tube inserted to make you sleep through the surgery. Your doctor will make several small holes in a vessel here. He or she will put a few tapered tubes called sheaths through this hole.

Your doctor will put a series of electrode catheters through the sheaths and into your blood vessel. Electrode catheters are long, thin, flexible tubes with electrodes at the tip.

The team will then advance the tubes to the correct place in your heart. Next, the doctor will locate the abnormal tissue using special technology. He or she will do this by sending a small electrical impulse through the catheter. The doctor will place the catheter at the site where the abnormal cells are. He or she will then scar the abnormal area by freezing or burning. This might cause slight discomfort.

The team will remove the tubes. They will close your vessel with firm pressure. The team will close and bandage the site where the doctor inserted the tubes. What happens after ablation? In the hospital after the procedure: You will spend several hours in a recovery room.

The team will monitor your vital signs, such as your heart rate and breathing. You will need to lie flat for several hours after the procedure. You should not bend your legs. This will help prevent bleeding. Most people spend the night in the hospital. You may feel some chest tightness after the procedure. Your doctor will review which medicines you need to take, including blood thinners.

At home after the procedure: Most people can return to normal activities within a few days after leaving the hospital. Avoid heavy physical activity for a few days. Avoid driving for 48 hours after the procedure. You may have a small bruise from the catheter insertion.

Understand Your Risk for Arrhythmia. Symptoms, Diagnosis and Monitoring of Arrhythmia. Prevention and Treatment. Arrhythmia Tools and Resources. Quick facts Catheter ablation is used to treat abnormal heart rhythms arrhythmias when medicines are not tolerated or effective. Medicines help to control the abnormal heart tissue that causes arrhythmias. Catheter ablation destroys the tissue. Catheter ablation is a low-risk procedure that is successful in most people who have it.

This procedure takes place in a special hospital room called an electrophysiology EP lab or a cardiac catheterization cath lab. It takes 2 to 4 hours. Why do people have catheter ablation? What are the risks of catheter ablation? How should I prepare for catheter ablation? Your doctor will tell you what to eat and drink during the 24 hours before the test.

Tell your doctor about any medicines you take. He or she may ask you not to take them before your test. Leave all your jewelry at home. Arrange for someone to drive you home after your procedure.

What happens during catheter ablation? A nurse will put an IV intravenous line into a vein in your arm so you can get medicine anesthesia to prevent pain. You may also get a medicine sedative to help you relax but you will be awake throughout the procedure. The nurse will clean and shave the area where the doctor will be working.

This is usually in your groin. The nurse will give you a shot — a local anesthetic — to numb the needle puncture site. The doctor will make a needle puncture through your skin and into the blood vessel typically a vein, but sometimes an artery in your groin. A small straw-sized tube called a sheath will be inserted into the blood vessel.

The doctor will gently guide a catheter a long, thin tube into your vessel through the sheath. A video screen will show the position of the catheter. The doctor inserts several long, thin tubes with wires, called electrode catheters, through the sheath and feeds these tubes into your heart.

To locate the abnormal tissue causing arrhythmia, the doctor sends a small electrical impulse through the electrode catheter. This activates the abnormal tissue that is causing your arrhythmia.

Your heart rhythm will be checked during this time. Your doctor will decide whether you can go home on the same day, or if you will need to stay in the hospital overnight for continued heart monitoring. You will need someone to drive you home after your procedure. Your doctor may keep you on your medicines, or give you new ones that help control your heart rhythm.

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Heart Rhythm. PMID: pubmed. The electrophysiology laboratory and electrophysiologic procedure. Kern's Cardiac Catheterization Handbook. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; chap 7. Therapy for cardiac arrhythmias. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; chap Editorial team. Cardiac ablation procedures. There are two methods for performing cardiac ablation: Radiofrequency ablation uses heat energy to eliminate the problem area. Cryoablation uses very cold temperatures. The type of procedure you have will depend on what kind of abnormal heart rhythm you have.

You will be given medicine a 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 doctor 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 the area. The doctor will use live x-ray images to carefully guide the catheter up into your heart.

Sometimes more than one catheter is needed.