Alternative names for catheter Ablation
- Ablation
- Catheter ablation
- Cardiac ablation
- Cardiac catheter ablation
- Radiofrequency ablation:Radiofrequency catheter ablation
- Cryoablation:Catheter cryoablation
What is a cardiac arrhythmia?
An abnormal heart rhythm is known as an arrhythmia.A cardiac arrhythmia, also called dysrhythmia, is an irregular or abnormal heart rhythm.Technique-Catheter ablation- How catheter ablation is done ?
Cardiac ablation is a nonsurgical procedure that uses a thin bendable wire called a therapeutic catheter .Doctor inserts therapeutic catheters that emit radiofrequency waves and generate enough heat to destroys small areas of heart tissue where abnormal heartbeats may cause an arrhythmia to start.Destroying this tissue helps restore your heart’s regular rhythm. The procedure is also called radiofrequency ablation.Catheter ablation uses radiofrequency energy to destroy a small area of heart tissue that is causing rapid and irregular heartbeats. This blocks the faulty electrical impulses that can cause heart rhythm disorders like atrial fibrillation.Why Catheter ablation Therapy is needed ?
Why do I need ablation therapy?Doctors recommend ablation therapy to treat:
- The medicines you take don't control your arrhythmia.
- AV Nodal re-entry tachycardia (AVNRT)
- Atrial fibrillation and atrial flutter
- Ventricular tachycardia
- Accessory pathways
- You have faulty electrical activity in your heart that raises your risk of ventricular fibrillation (v-fib) and sudden cardiac arrest (SCA).
- Ablation therapy or Catheter ablation is also used to treat the patients who have fast heart beat and reduce the risks of strokes and blood clots.
Who performs the catheter ablation procedure?
Catheter ablation is performed by a heart rhythm specialist called an electrophysiologist (EP). Electrophysiologist (EP) is a cardiologist (heart doctor) who has had specialized training in diagnosing and treating heart arrhythmias.Risks and complications of Catheter ablation
What are the risks of catheter ablation?Less than 5 % patients who have undergone catheter ablation develop any serious problem Catheter ablation has some risks below are some possible risks of catheter ablation
- Blood clots and puncture of the heart.
- Inserting the tubes can occasionally damage your blood vessel or cause bleeding or infection but these problems are rare
- Bleeding
- Pain may occur at the catheter insertion site.
- Infection
- Catheter ablation involves radiation. Radiation from the procedure may increase the risk of cancer, although the risk is small.
Recovery or rehabilitation after Catheter ablation
After Catheter ablation doctors will shift the patients cardiovascular intensive care unit where they are not allowed to move for 4–6 hours this prevent bleeding from the site of catheter insertion .Patients will be connected to devices which measures his heart beat and blood pressure .Patients will be under observation and doctor will decide whether patients will stay overnight in the hospital or will discharge on same day depending on your condition.Before you go to home doctor will give you some advice regarding medicines which you have to take,what activities you should avoid or follow etc