Catheter Ablation Treatment
Catheter Ablation Treatment
What is catheter ablation?
Catheter ablation is a minimally invasive procedure used to treat abnormal heart rhythms (arrhythmias). It works by creating small, controlled scars in specific areas of the heart that are responsible for abnormal electrical signals. These scars block the abnormal pathways, allowing the heart to return to a normal rhythm.
This can be done using different types of energy:
- Heat (Radiofrequency Ablation)
- Freezing (Cryoablation)
- Electrical pulses (Pulsed Field Ablation, PFA)
Each approach is selected based on your condition, ensuring the most effective and appropriate treatment for you.
Which condition can be treated?
Catheter ablation is effective for various types of fast heart rhythm conditions, including:
- Atrial fibrillation (AF) – An irregular and often fast heartbeat.
- Atrial flutter – A fast but more regular rhythm.
- Supraventricular tachycardia (SVT/PSVT) – Episodes of very fast heart rate that starts suddenly.
- Wolff-Parkinson-White (WPW) syndrome – A condition caused by an extra electrical pathway in the heart.
- Atrial tachycardia – A fast heartbeat that starts in the upper chambers.
- Inappropriate sinus tachycardia – A faster than normal heart rate without a clear cause.
- Ventricular tachycardia (VT) – A fast heart rhythm from the lower chambers of the heart, which can be more serious.
How the procedure is performed?
Catheter ablation is performed using a minimally invasive approach, without the need for open surgery.
- Thin, flexible tubes (catheters) are inserted through a vein, usually from the groin
- These catheters are carefully guided into the heart
- Doctors identify the exact area causing the abnormal rhythm
- The targeted area is then treated to block the faulty electrical signals
- To ensure accuracy and safety, the procedure is guided by advanced imaging and 3D mapping systems, allowing doctors to precisely locate and treat the problem area.
Advanced Technology We Use
3D Mapping
3D mapping creates a real-time, three-dimensional map of your heart’s electrical activity during the procedure. This allows doctors to:
- Identify where the abnormal rhythm starts
- Track how it spreads through the heart
- Precisely target the area that needs treatment.
By improving accuracy, 3D mapping helps make the procedure safer and more effective.
Intracardiac Echocardiography (ICE)
Intracardiac echocardiography (ICE) uses a specialised ultrasound catheter placed inside the heart to provide live, high-resolution images during the procedure. In simple terms, it works like having a real-time camera inside the heart, allowing doctors to:
- See heart structures clearly.
- Guide catheters with greater precision.
- Monitor the procedure as it happens
This enhances both safety and procedural control.
Types of ablation available
1. Radiofrequency Ablation (Heat-Based)
Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is one of the most commonly used treatment for abnormal heart rhythms. It works by delivering controlled heat energy through a catheter to a small area of heart tissue that is responsible for the abnormal electrical signals. This creates a tiny lesion area, that blocks the abnormal pathway and helps restore a normal rhythm.
- Many patients experience significant improvement, and in some cases, the abnormal rhythm may not return.
- Successful treatment may reduce or eliminate the need for long-term anti-arrhythmic medication.
- Symptoms such as palpitations, dizziness, or fatigue can be significantly reduced.
- Bleeding or infection may occur at the catheter insertion site (usually the groin), but is usually minor and treatable.
- Damage to nearby structures because the heart is close to other important structures, there is a small risk of unintended injury.
- Heart block (rare) in some cases, the normal electrical pathway may be affected, which could require a pacemaker.
- The abnormal rhythm may return in some patients, and a repeat procedure may be needed.
2. Cryoablation (Freezing-Based)
Cryoablation is a catheter-based treatment that uses extreme cold to treat abnormal heart rhythms, most commonly atrial fibrillation. Instead of using heat, this technique freezes a small, targeted area of heart tissue to create a controlled lesion. This helps block abnormal electrical signals and restore a more normal heart rhythm. In many cases, a specialised balloon (cryo-balloon) is used to treat areas around the pulmonary veins, which are often responsible for triggering atrial fibrillation.
- Widely used for atrial fibrillation, with good success in reducing or eliminating episodes.
- Performed through small catheters inserted via a vein—no open surgery required.
- In most cases, the procedure is simplified and leads to a shorter procedure duration.
- The freezing technique allows for more uniform treatment in specific areas of the heart.
- Temporary nerve injury (e.g. diaphragm weakness)
- Rare risk of heart injury
- Recurrent arrhythmia
3. Pulsed Field Ablation (PFA)
Pulsed Field Ablation (PFA) is a next-generation catheter-based treatment for abnormal heart rhythms, particularly atrial fibrillation. Unlike traditional ablation methods that use heat or freezing, PFA delivers a short bursts of high voltage electrical energy to target abnormal heart cells. This process is called electroporation which creates tiny openings in the cell membrane, causing the cells to stop functioning. One key advantage of PFA is its ability to selectively affect heart tissue, while minimising damage to surrounding structures.
- Performed using catheters inserted through a vein.
- Targets abnormal heart cells while reducing the risk of damage to nearby structures such as the esophagus or nerves.
- Designed to improve procedural safety compared to traditional thermal ablation methods.
- In many cases, treatment can be delivered more quickly due to the nature of the energy used.
