Catheter Ablation
Catheter ablation is a non-surgical approach to treating atrial fibrillation. The procedure involves threading a small catheter through a vein in the groin up to the heart. A special source of energy is then used to burn small lesions on specific areas of the heart where the abnormal electrical signals that cause AF originate. Once these lesions are created, scar tissue will form in that area, which will block the abnormal impulses from communicating with the atrium.
Catheter ablation has shown to be more effective for patients with paroxysmal rather than persistent AF or permanent AF. Many patients may also require a second or third procedure to cure their atrial fibrillation. Some patients may also need a pacemaker placed if the catheter ablations are not successful. According to worldwide research, 66% of patients continued to be free of atrial fibrillation in the absence of anti-arrhythmic medications 12 months after their catheter-based ablation, however, only 42% of those patients remained free of atrial fibrillation 18-24 months after their procedure. 4
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