Ablation for Arrhythmias

Updated:Nov 8,2012
  • Radiofrequency ablation
This nonsurgical procedure is used to treat some types of rapid heart beating, such as atrial fibrillation, atrial flutter and atrial tachycardia. It's most often used to treat supraventricular tachyarrhythmias. These are rapid, uncoordinated heartbeats starting in the heart's upper chambers (atria) or middle region (AV node or the very beginning portion of the heart's electrical system).  

 How is radiofrequency ablation done?
A physician guides a catheter with an electrode at its tip to the area of heart muscle where the damaged site is located. Then a mild, painless radiofrequency energy (similar to microwave heat) is transmitted to the site of the pathway. Heart muscle cells in a very small area (about 1/5 of an inch) die and stop conducting the extra impulses that caused the rapid heartbeats.

How effective and safe is this procedure?
Radiofrequency ablation has a success rate of over 90 percent, a low risk of complications and the patient can resume normal activities in a few days. It causes little or no discomfort and is done under mild sedation with local anesthesia. For these reasons, it's now widely used and is the preferred treatment for many types of rapid heartbeats.

  • Transcatheter Ablation
Radiofrequency ablation that is done through a catheter to the targeted site is a transcatheter approach. Newer advances now permit therapeutic ablations using a transcatheter approach. In this technique, an electrode catheter inserted through a blood vessel during electrophysiologic studies is used to perform targeted electrocautery in the heart. A patient may be cured of tachycardia through ablative therapy, so antiarrhythmic medication is no longer needed. Transcatheter ablation is rapidly becoming the treatment of choice for many supraventricular tachycardias.

  • Catheter Ablation
What is catheter ablation?

Quick facts

  • Catheter ablation is used to treat abnormal heart rhythms (arrhythmias) when medicines are not effective or convenient.
  • Catheter ablation is a low-risk procedure that is successful in about 90 percent of the people who have it.
Why do people have catheter ablation?


What are the risks of catheter ablation?
There are few risks. Fewer than 5 percent of people who have the procedure develop any problems. The most common problems result from the use of the catheters – long, thin tubes doctors insert into your arteries or veins. Inserting the tubes can occasionally damage your blood vessel or cause bleeding or infection. These problems are rare.


How should I prepare for catheter ablation?
  • Leave all your jewelry at home.
  • Arrange for someone to drive you home after your procedure.
What happens during catheter ablation?
“I am not limited by my arrhythmia now. I can travel and go about my life without worrying where the nearest hospital is.”  Tom, age 74


What happens after catheter ablation?
After the doctor or nurse removes the sheath:
What happens after I get home?
  • Don’t drive for 24 hours after you leave the hospital.
  • Avoid heavy physical activity for three days. Ask you doctor when you can return to strenuous exercise.
Call 9-1-1 if you notice:
  • The puncture site swells up very fast.
Call your doctor if:
  • The area around a puncture site looks more bruised.
  • You feel sick to your stomach or sweat a lot.
  • You have a fast or irregular heartbeat.
  • You feel short of breath.
How can I learn more about catheter ablation?
  • Why do you think catheter ablation will help me?
  • Are there other treatments we should consider?
  • How did I get this arrhythmia?
Learn more:

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