OUTPATIENT PROCEDURE INFORMATION: CATHETER ABLATION
Purpose of the Procedure
This procedure is usually done along with an electrophysiology (EP) study. Its sole purpose is to attempt to cure you of your heart rhythm problem.
What You Should Expect During the Test
Once your doctor finds out that you have a rhythm problem, and specifically which one, he will try to locate the area inside the heart causing the problem. This is called mapping. Depending on the type of rhythm problem you have, there may be a need for specialized equipment to perform the mapping procedure. Sometimes this can take 2-3 hours to complete.
The abnormal area is usually small and located on the lining of the heart in one specific chamber. One of the catheters placed in the heart can be positioned with its tip on top of the abnormal area. Electrical current is then delivered to the abnormal area through the catheter causing it to turn into a small, inactive scar. You are asleep during this and do not feel any discomfort.
During most catheter ablation procedures, the time it takes to locate the abnormal tissue can last as short as 5-10 minutes or as long as 1-2 hours. The majority of the time it is likely less than 30 minutes. Once the abnormal area is located, the damage produced in this area by delivering current should not take very long, usually 5-10 minutes. However, there are times when it is hard to keep the catheter in a stable position, causing this part of the procedure to last longer.
Your rhythm problem should be cured by the end of the procedure. Depending on the type of rhythm problem and the location of the abnormal area inside the heart, the possibility that the rhythm problem can recur does exist. Your doctor will have discussed these chances with you.
In order to have the test, you will be required to sign a consent form which states that you understand what the procedure is all about and that you are aware of a variety of complications which can occur. These include, but are not limited to death, stroke, permanent nerve or artery injury with disability involving your arm or leg, poking a hole in the heart or lung, causing a rhythm disturbance that you could not be resuscitated from or may require a temporary or permanent pacemaker to fix, skin burns, infection involving any of the puncture sites or blood poisoning. The likelihood of any of these problems developing is less than 0.1% (one in a thousand).