Cardiac Ablation Surgery
Cardiac ablation surgery at Salem Hospital
North Shore patients considering cardiac ablation for atrial fibrillation (AFib) or another type of arrhythmia treatment find excellent options for cardiac ablation surgery at the Heart Center of Salem Hospital. Salem Hospital is a member of Mass General Brigham.
The Heart Center was developed in close collaboration with Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston. It is the only heart center on the North Shore with comprehensive cardiac services, including advanced cardiac surgery and the cardiac electrophysiology program. Cardiac ablation surgery is performed by our cardiac electrophysiologists, who evaluate and treat a full range of heart rhythm disturbances such as rapid and slow heart rates, palpitations, lightheadedness and blackout spells.
The cardiac ablation procedure is often recommended for patients experiencing heart arrhythmia – abnormal rate or rhythm of heartbeat. Cardiac ablation for AFib is now a viable alternative to long-term medication, and is revolutionizing management of cardiac arrhythmias.
How cardiac ablation surgery works
Once in place, electrodes at the end of the catheter are used to stimulate the heart and identify the area of heart tissue that is causing the abnormal rhythm. Then, using a mild radio frequency heat energy (called radiofrequency ablation) or very cold temperatures (cryoablation), doctors destroy the problem tissue.
This is typically a very small area – usually about one-fifth of an inch. Once the ablation surgery is completed and the problem tissue is eliminated, the abnormal electrical signals that caused the arrhythmia should be longer be present.
Cardiac ablation surgery may take anywhere from 3 to 6 hours. While most people do not feel pain during a cardiac ablation surgery, physicians usually provide patients with intravenous medication to help them relax.
Additional electrophysiology treatments and procedures
In addition to cardiac ablation surgery, patients may come to Heart Center for a full spectrum of arrhythmia treatments, including:
- Antiarrhythmic medication therapy
- Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator (ICD) placement
- Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy (CRT) or also known as Bi-ventricular pacemaker implant and or ICD placement
- Defibrillator or Pacemaker Surgery
- Cardioversion
- Implantable loop recorders
- Head-up-tilt-table testing
- Electrophysiology Study (EPS)
- Single and dual chamber permanent pacemaker implants
- Non-invasive Programmed Stimulation
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