What Is Cardiac Ablation?

This procedure uses energy to make small scars in your heart tissue. They stop unusual
electrical signals that move through your heart and cause an uneven heartbeat (your doctor
might call it arrhythmia). Cardiac ablation can also treat atrial fibrillation (AFib), a type
of irregular heartbeat. If this is the case, your doctor might call it atrial fibrillation ablation.
The doctor may try cardiac ablation if medications and resetting your heartbeat -- also known
as cardioversion -- don’t work.

Types of Cardiac Ablation

There are two ways your doctor can do ablation. Catheter ablation is the more common
procedure.
Types of cardiac catheter ablation
Catheter ablation, also called radiofrequency or pulmonary vein ablation, isn’t surgery. Your
doctor puts a thin, flexible tube called a catheter into a blood vessel in your leg or neck and
guides it to your heart. When it reaches the area that’s causing the arrhythmia, it can destroy
those cells. This helps get your heartbeat regular again. There are two main kinds:

 Radiofrequency ablation. The doctor uses catheters to send radiofrequency energy

(similar to microwave heat) that makes circular scars around each vein or group of
veins.
 Cryoablation. A single catheter sends a balloon tipped with a material that freezes
the tissues to cause a scar.

Types of cardiac surgical ablation

Surgical ablation involves cutting into your chest. There are three
main kinds:

 Maze procedure. Your doctor will usually do this while you’re

having open heart surgery for another problem, like a bypass or
valve replacement. They make small cuts in the upper part of
your heart and stitch them together to form the scar tissue that
stops unusual signals.
 Mini maze. Most people with AFib don’t need open heart
surgery. That’s where this less invasive type comes in. Your
doctor makes several small cuts between your ribs and uses a
camera to do catheter ablation. Some hospitals offer robotic-
assisted surgery that uses smaller cuts and makes the
procedure more precise. Your doctor will put a video camera or
 tiny robot into your chest. It’ll guide the creation of scar tissue
that may help keep your heartbeat at the right pace.

 Convergent procedure. This pairs catheter ablation with a mini

maze. The doctor uses radiofrequency ablation in the
pulmonary vein, and a surgeon makes a small cut under your
breastbone to use radiofrequency energy on the outside of your
heart.

Risks of Cardiac Ablation

Any procedure has risks. Problems with cardiac ablation can include:

 Bleeding or infection where the catheter went in

 Damaged blood vessels if the catheter scrapes them
 Arrhythmias caused by damage to your heart’s electrical system
 Blood clots in your legs or lungs
 Heart damage, like punctures or damaged valves
 Stroke or heart attack
 Narrowing of the veins between your lungs and heart
 Kidney damage from the dye
 Radiation
 Death

What Are the Benefits of Ablation?

If you don’t treat AFib, your odds of blood clots, heart failure, or a stroke go up. These could
be life-threatening.
The doctor will take your risk factors into account before they suggest a treatment. If you
have no symptoms or if they’re mild, the doctor may watch and wait. But they might
prescribe warfarin or another blood thinner to protect you from strokes.
Cardiac ablation may be right for you if AFib symptoms are more severe and make it hard to
do daily tasks.