What are Catheter Ablations?

Catheter ablation is a non-surgical electrophysiology procedure used to treat certain types of tachycardias.  Tachycardia is a heart rate that is faster than normal.  Abnormal heart tissue can cause the heart to short-circut which in turn can result in a rapid or irregular heart beat.  By destroying abnormal tissue areas, catheter ablation repairs the heart*s electrical system and returns it to a normal rhythm.

How the test is performed:
The procedure is done in either an electrophysiology (EP) lab or a cardiac catheterization lab. It takes between one and six hours and is successful about 98 percent of the time.  During the procedure, a small incision is made usually in the groin or neck. An ablating electrode catheter is inserted into a blood vessel and gently moved toward the heart. The physician follows the catheter*s progress on a special monitor connected to a fluoroscope camera, which is like an X-ray video camera.

The catheter can be used to sense electrical activity in various areas of the heart and measure how fast these impulses travel. The catheter can also be used to deliver tiny electrical impulses to stimulate the heart to beat or contract. By doing so, physicians attempt to induce the tachycardia so they can understand more about it and decide how best to treat it.

After a proper diagnosis has been made and the abnormal tissue is located, the physician burns, or ablates the area using high-frequency energy. The burning creates a lesion or tiny scar, making the tissue no longer able to sustain the arrhythmia. This usually causes the electrical system to return to a normal rhythm.

How to prepare for the test:
Food and fluid are restricted 6 to 8 hours before the test. The procedure takes place in a cath lab and you will be asked to wear a hospital gown. Sometimes, admission the night before the test is required. Otherwise, you will be admitted as an outpatient or an inpatient the morning of the procedure.

Tell your doctor if you are allergic to seafood, if you have had a bad reaction to contrast material in the past, if you are taking Viagra, or if you might be pregnant. 

How the test will feel:
A catheter ablation is usually not painful; however you may experience some mild discomfort at the incision point.