It is a procedure that is carried out when there are conditions that alter the heart rhythm with the intention of modulating the symptoms when other types of treatments, including medicinal treatment, have not been successful. The most common type of cardiac ablation is carried out by inserting a catheter at a very low or high temperature to heal the damaged tissue and correct the condition by restoring normal heart rhythm.
Some of the most common conditions for which cardiac ablation is required are arrhythmias such as atrial fibrillation and ventricular tachycardia.
Preoperative preparation:
Your ABC doctor will review your medical history, perform a physical examination, and request complementary studies in order to evaluate your heart disorder, explaining the risks of the procedure. Please remember the following:
- Notify him or her of any allergies or reactions you have or previously had.
- If you have a pacemaker or implanted defibrillator, tell him or her if you should have any considerations.
- If you are under medicinal treatment, ask if you can continue with it before the procedure.
Postoperative recovery:
The procedure will require you to be sedated or under general anesthesia and will often last 3 to 6 hours.
At the end of the procedure, you could experience slight discomfort in the chest, headache, and fatigue, so you will need to recover for a few hours in another room under medical supervision to attend to any discomfort or complication.
In some cases, you may be able to leave the hospital that same day, although the recovery period will usually be two to three days before you can return to your daily activities.
Potential complications:
Although cardiac ablation through catheter is normally safe, as in any intervention, there could be complications such as:
- Heart attack.
- Clot formation or bleeding.
- Damage to arteries, nerves, or valves.
The main purpose of this procedure is to restore normal heart rhythm and improve your quality of life, although they may recommend follow-up studies or maintain medicinal treatment.
To keep your heart healthy, your ABC doctor will show you the steps to follow.
At the Cardiovascular Center we offer you a wide range of prevention, diagnosis, timely treatment, and follow-up services to take care of you through a comprehensive and multidisciplinary care model. Come to us, we want to hear your heart.
Related centers and departments
Fuentes:
- fundación española del corazón
- msdmanuals.com
- clinicamayo.org
- medigraphic.org
- Earley MJ, Showkathali R, Alzetani M, Kistler PM, Gupta D, Abrams DJ et al. Radiofrequency ablation of arrhythmias guided by non-fluoroscopic catheter location: a prospective randomized trial. Eur Heart J. 2006; 27 (10): 1223-1229.
- García OMS, Tarelo SJM, Díaz QG. Fibrilación auricular: manejo quirúrgico con ablación por radiofrecuencia. Experiencia en el Servicio de Cirugía Cardiovascular del CMN 20 de Noviembre del ISSSTE. Rev Esp Med Quir. 2011;16(4):235-239.
- Pappone C, Santinelli V. Atrial fibrillation ablation: State of the art. Am J Cardiol 2005;96(Supl):59L-64L.
- Robledo & Nolasco R, Leal &;Díaz JR. Ablación con catéter de radiofrecuencia de taquiarritmias usando sólo sistemas de mapeo tridimensional. Cardiovasc Metab Sci . 2020;31(1):4-8. doi:10.35366/93256.
