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Ablation Treatment for Rapid Irregular Heart Treatment

Rapid and irregular heart rates are often caused by diet, medications or increased activity, but frequent or constant racing heartbeats can be a sign of abnormality in the electrical pathway of the heart. Cardiac catheter ablation is an advanced technique used to treat arrhythmia and most who undergo this procedure are cured of their heart problems and no longer require medication. If you suffer from an arrhythmia, there are many advantages to considering ablation treatment.

  1. Advantages

    • Cardiac catheter ablation treatment has the potential to interrupt the triggers of heart arrhythmia and restore your regular, coordinated heartbeat. After undergoing an ablation treatment you may find that you no longer need daily blood thinning medications. With ablation treatment you will not have the concerns that accompany cardiac surgical procedures since this treatment is minimally invasive. This reduces your risk of potential complications that often accompany open heart surgery or other invasive procedures. You will probably experience little to no pain after undergoing a cardiac catheter ablation treatment. Another advantage to ablation treatment is the speedy recovery. Most recover pretty quickly, and you should not have to stay in the hospital more than two days. Normal activity can typically be resumed a few days after the procedure.

    Types of Ablation Treatment

    • Your condition and test results will determine the specific type of ablation treatment your doctor chooses for you. One of the most common types is pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) ablation. A PVI ablation procedure electrically isolates hot spots in the pulmonary veins that are triggering your atrial fibrillations. If your doctor thinks you will need a pacemaker, he may perform an AV node ablation treatment. During an atrioventricular (AV) node ablation procedure, a catheter is placed near the atrioventricular node while radiofrequency energy is administered through the catheter to destroy the AV node and prevent the atria from sending electrical pulses to the ventricles. Once this has been done your doctor permanently implants a pacemaker to reestablish normal heart rhythms. If your doctor suggests an AV procedure, you should expect to continue your blood thinning medications. Supraventricular tachycardia ablation is performed by threading catheters through your heart's blood vessels. This method sends radiofrequency energy through the tip of the catheter in order to ablate a small area of your heart that is causing excessive beating. Your doctor will chose a method based on the location and severity of your heart condition.

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