Understanding Catheter Ablation: Your Questions Answered

Your heart beats in a fairly predictable rhythm. While the rate of your heartbeats will rise and fall as you move through your daily routines, there is a rhythm that stays relatively consistent. When that rhythm falters, you may have a condition called arrhythmia. 

At Heart Care, we see patients with a wide variety of arrhythmias. Cardigan catheter ablation is a common choice and can help you return to normal heart rhythms. 

Here’s how the process works and how to decide if it’s right for you. 

How electrical signals control your heart’s rhythm

Thinking about how the heart functions is a great place to begin when trying to understand your treatment options, including cardiac catheter ablation. Your heart is a muscular structure with chambers where blood collects before being pumped to the lungs and the arteries. 

Electrical signals within the heart prompt this pumping action. If those electrical signals are not happening at the proper rate, the heart will not contract, and blood will not be properly circulated. 

Creating damage to improve function

The way cardiac catheter ablation works might seem counterintuitive at first glance. Basically, the treatment involves intentionally creating small scars within the heart. While harming targeted heart tissue may sound like a terrible idea, this approach is an excellent way to address problems with the heart’s electrical signaling. 

The first part of the process involves guiding several catheters into the heart and using electrodes on the ends to stimulate a heartbeat. This allows your specialist to determine which part of the heart is causing the abnormal electrical signaling. 

The problem area is usually incredibly small, often less than one-fifth of an inch. Once that area is identified, your specialist sends mild radiofrequency energy to that tissue. This creates heat (cold temperatures are sometimes used as well) that damages the tissue, leading to tiny scars. 

Those scars block the abnormal electrical signaling, thereby restoring normal heart rhythms. You’ll receive medication to block sensation in the area, and general anesthesia may be used. There’s no need to worry about any form of pain during the treatment process. 

Catheter ablation isn’t the only way to resolve arrhythmias

This technique is not the only solution to arrhythmia. Your heart specialist determines what type of arrhythmia you have before explaining your treatment options. Cardiac catheter ablation is the best way to address some problems, but for others, it isn’t considered unless less invasive options are exhausted. 

Cardiac catheter ablation is done in a hospital setting. You’ll be closely monitored for several hours after the procedure, and you may need to stay overnight for observation. Some aching sensations and abnormal heart rhythms are possible for a few days, but most people can return to normal activity levels within the same week as their procedure. 

If you’re considering your options for treating arrhythmia, we invite you to come in and meet with a member of the Heart Care team to learn more. Setting up a visit is fast and easy with online and phone-based scheduling options. 

If you’re concerned about changes in your heart rhythm, the team at Heart Care is here to help. The diagnostic process for arrhythmia is nothing to be afraid of, and it can provide valuable information about how your heart is currently functioning and whether additional testing is necessary. 

Booking a visit to our office in Frisco, Texas, is as easy as a quick phone call or a few moments online, so don’t delay.