Cardiac Ablation for AFib
Salem Hospital provides cardiac ablation for AFib.
North Shore patients requiring cardiac ablation for atrial fibrillation (AFib) receive world-class care at the Heart Center at Salem Hospital, a member of Mass General Brigham. The Heart Center provides comprehensive cardiac care on the North Shore, including angioplasty, electrophysiology, catheterization, heart failure care and cardiac testing. Specialists in our cardiac electrophysiology program offer state-of-the-art diagnostic and treatment options to manage AFib and other irregular heart rhythm conditions, including cardiac ablation for AFib.
What is cardiac ablation for AFib?
Symptoms may include:
- heart palpitations
- decreased blood pressure
- lightheadedness
- weakness
- shortness of breath
- chest pain
How cardiac ablation for AFib surgery works.
Cardiac ablation for AFib is a minimally invasive surgery during which patients may be sedated (for more complex procedures, a general anesthetic is administered). A cardiac ablation procedure is normally performed in an electrophysiology lab or operating room and may last up to 6 hours. Cardiac ablation for AFib is revolutionizing management of cardiac arrhythmia because it is so successful, and most patients are able to return to their daily routine within a few days.
During cardiac ablation surgery, surgeons insert four catheters into the heart through veins in the arm, neck or groin. The catheters contain both the tools for ablation as well as advanced imaging equipment. Once the catheters are in place, the ablation is performed using an energy source such as radio waves (radiofrequency ablation) or intense cold (cryoablation) to destroy a small bit of cardiac tissue and create scar tissue that will block the irregular electrical signals causing the fibrillation.
