Conditions & Services / Ablation

An ablation is a minimally invasive cardiac procedure that creates scar tissue on your heart to stop certain types of abnormal heartbeats. The skilled cardiologists at HeartPlace perform ablations for atrial fibrillation (AFib) and atrial flutters (AFlutter). To find out more about the ablation procedure and how it may benefit your heart condition, call one of the 30 HeartPlace office locations or schedule a consultation online today.  

What is ablation?

An ablation is a minimally invasive procedure the skilled HeartPlace cardiologists perform to treat atrial fibrillation (AFib) or atrial flutter (AFlutter). These are conditions that cause an abnormal heart rhythm or arrhythmia.

AFib

AFib is an arrhythmia starting in the left upper chamber of your heart and causing a chaotic electrical signal and irregular heartbeat. This type of abnormal heart rhythm increases your risk of developing blood clots and having a heart attack (myocardial infarction).

AFlutter

An AFlutter is an abnormal heartbeat that starts in the right upper chamber of the heart. It’s not uncommon to have both AFib and AFlutter at the same time.

During an ablation, your cardiologist uses radiofrequency energy to create tiny scars on your heart, blocking the nerve transmission responsible for setting the abnormal heart rhythm. 

Am I a candidate for an ablation?

Your cardiologist at HeartPlace determines if you’re a candidate for the ablation procedure after a consultation. You may be a candidate for ablation if you have an arrhythmia that fails to improve with anti-arrhythmic medications. 

You may also be a candidate for ablation if your arrhythmia puts you at risk of more serious health complications like a heart attack. 

What happens during an ablation?

You are sedated for an ablation, which takes about 3-4 hours, so you remain relaxed and pain-free during the treatment.

For an ablation, your cardiologist inserts a catheter into one of your blood vessels and advances it towards your heart. This catheter has an electrode tip that helps identify the area causing your arrhythmia. Your cardiologist uses the catheter tip to transmit radiofrequency energy to burn the area and stop the arrhythmia. 

How long is recovery following an ablation?

After your ablation, your cardiologist sends you to the recovery area for monitoring. Most patients go home a few hours later; however, if your cardiologist has any concerns, they may have you spend the night in the hospital for continued care.

You may feel soreness following your ablation, but these symptoms go away within a week. You can resume most of your usual activities after a few days but need to refrain from heavy lifting or strenuous activity for at least a week.

Your cardiologist schedules follow-up appointments to assess your heart health and adjust your plan as needed.

Find out more about an ablation for your arrhythmia by calling HeartPlace or scheduling an appointment online today.