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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?

Atrial fibrillation, or AFib, refers to an irregular, often rapid heart rate that typically results in poor circulation of blood to the body.

Symptoms may include:

  • heart palpitations
  • decreased blood pressure
  • lightheadedness
  • weakness
  • shortness of breath
  • chest pain
Cardiac ablation for AFib is a procedure that destroys a small area of tissue in the heart that may be causing the heart to beat irregularly. It is a viable alternative to long-term medication because cardiac ablation for AFib has a success rate of greater than 95 percent for many kinds of arrhythmias, specifically supraventricular.

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.

In addition cardiac ablation for AFib, patients come to Salem Hospital for a wide variety of medical conditions and treatment, including hyperhidrosis surgery, lung cancer surgery, spine surgery and other procedures.
Meet our cardiac ablation specialist
Tel: 978.354.4507