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This handoutreviews ablation to treat atrial fibrillation. Atrial fibrillation (A-Fib or AF) is a type of abnormal heart rhythm. You do not need to be in A-Fib at the time of the procedure. There is no cure for A-Fib. Ablation can help reduce the amount or frequency of A-Fib you have.
How Ablation Works
Ablation creates small scars in the heart using one of these options:
Radiofrequency: Uses heat to treat the area.
Cryotherapy: Uses extreme and freezing cold to treat area.
Pulse field ablation (PFA): Uses short bursts of strong high-voltage pulses to treat area.
Getting Ready for Your Procedure
Tests: You may need blood work and/or imaging of your heart. Examples of imaging include an MRI or CT scan.
Medicines: We may make changes to your medicines. You may take a blood thinner medicine for a month or more before. We will provide you with instructions before the procedure.
Diet: We will tell you when to stop eating before the procedure.
Day of Procedure
Go to University Hospital. Once you arrive, take the F elevators to the 3rd floor. Then, go to the Heart and Vascular Procedure Center (F6/3). Once there, you will meet your health care team. The procedure takes several hours with recovery time.
During the Procedure
You will be monitored the entire time. We will place patches on your chest to watch your heart rhythm. Then, we place a clip on your finger to monitor your oxygen levels. You will receive medicine to put you to sleep. Once asleep, a breathing tube will be placed
We will place long, thin, bendy tubes, called catheters, into the blood vessels in your neck and/or groin. The catheters are then guided into the areas of the heart. Energy (heat, cooling or PFA) is used to target areas that may cause A-Fib.
Once complete, the catheters are removed and you will be moved to the Recovery Room.
Some patients can go home after the procedure. Others must stay in the hospital.
When to Call
For questions about your procedure, call the clinic during normal business hours.
Who to Call
UW Health Heart and Vascular Clinic Monday-Friday, 8:00 am to 4:30 pm
(608) 915-0200
After hours, nights, weekends, and holidays, this number will give you the paging operator. Ask for the cardiology fellow on call. Give your full name and phone number with the area code. A clinician will call you back.
Call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room if you are having a medical emergency.