Doctor taking blood pressure of patient.

Cardiac Ablation

Also known as: Catheter Ablation, Heart Ablation
At Providence, we’re dedicated to helping you and your heart get back on track. Whether your heart beats slower (bradycardia), faster (tachycardia), or simply irregularly (atrial fibrillation or AFib), a catheter ablation procedure may be the answer to treating your arrhythmia.

A catheter ablation procedure is the best treatment option for arrhythmias that can't be treated with medication. 

During the ablation procedure, one or more catheters (thin, flexible tubes) are inserted into your body. The catheters are then guided to the specific area in your heart causing the arrhythmia. Once there, the tips of the catheters use either radiofrequency energy or liquid nitrogen to eliminate the cells that are causing your heart to beat abnormally. 

The ablation procedure itself is minimally invasive and is performed under mild sedation and local anesthesia. More often than not, patients who undergo an ablation procedure leave the hospital the same day.

As with any procedure, some complications and side effects may arise. For a heart ablation procedure, these include bleeding, infection of the incision, damaged blood vessels, damaged nerves and some instances of heart damage.

The cardiovascular surgeons at Providence are using the latest in fluoroscopic digital imaging equipment to guide their practice and help reduce potential complications and risks.