Most people see improvements in their quality of life after cardiac ablation. Most people can return to their daily activities within a few days after having cardiac ablation. The soreness shouldn't last more than a week. Some people feel a little sore after the procedure. Plan to have someone else drive you home after your procedure. Depending on your condition, you may go home the same day or spend the night in the hospital. AfterĬardiac ablation usually takes three to six hours to complete (but it can vary a lot based on the type of arrhythmia you have).Īfterward, you'll be taken to a recovery area for a few hours where care providers will closely monitor you. If you have severe pain or shortness of breath, let your health care provider know.

You may feel some minor discomfort when the catheter is moved into your heart and when energy is being delivered. One of the following ablation techniques is used to create small scars in your heart and block the irregular heart rhythms: This part of the procedure is called an electrophysiology (EP) study.

Your health care provider uses this information to identify the area that is causing your arrhythmia and to decide where to apply the ablation. Sensors on the tip of the catheter send electrical impulses and record your heart's electricity. The catheters may be inserted through a blood vessel in your groin (most common), shoulder or neck (less common).ĭye (contrast) may be injected through the catheter to help blood vessels show up more clearly on X-ray images. The health care provider inserts the catheter through a blood vessel into your heart. The catheter may be inserted in your groin, your shoulder or your neck. DuringĬatheter insertion points for cardiac ablationĭuring cardiac ablation, a long flexible tube (catheter) is passed through a blood vessel in order to reach your heart. You may be being fully awake or lightly sedated, or you may be given general anesthesia (fully asleep). The amount of sedation needed for the procedure depends on your specific arrhythmia and other health conditions. A specialist will insert an IV into your forearm or hand and give you a medication called a sedative to help you relax. What you can expect BeforeĬardiac ablation is done in the hospital. Your care provider will tell you how or if you should continue any medications before a cardiac ablation. You'll need to stop eating and drinking the night before your procedure. Your health care provider may order several tests to get more information about your heart condition before your cardiac ablation. Damage to the kidneys from contrast used during the procedureĭiscuss the risks and benefits of cardiac ablation with your health care provider to understand if this procedure is right for you.Narrowing of the veins that carry blood between the lungs and heart (pulmonary vein stenosis).Blood clots in the legs or lungs (venous thromboembolism).Slow heart rate that could require a pacemaker to correct.Bleeding or infection at the site where the catheter was inserted.Have a high risk of complications from arrhythmias, such as sudden cardiac arrest.Have certain types of arrhythmias that respond well to ablation, such as Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome and supraventricular tachycardia.Have had serious side effects from medications to treat arrhythmias.Have tried medications to treat an arrhythmia without success.Your health care provider may recommend cardiac ablation if you: Other times, it's done when other medicines or treatments don't work. Any disruption in the signaling pathway can trigger an irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia).ĭepending on the type of heart rhythm problem, cardiac ablation may be one of the first treatments. When the heart beats, the electrical signals that cause the heart to squeeze (contract) must follow a specific pathway through the heart. Cardiac ablation is a procedure that's used to correct heart rhythm problems.

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