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Our Health Library information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Please be advised that this information is made available to assist our patients to learn more about their health. Our providers may not see and/or treat all topics found herein. You may want to have a say in this decision, or you may simply want to follow your doctor's recommendation. Either way, this information will help you understand what your choices are so that you can talk to your doctor about them. Get the Compare Your Your Quiz Your Summary Normally, the heart has a strong, steady beat. That beat is controlled by the heart's electrical system. Sometimes that system misfires, causing atrial fibrillation. Catheter ablation is a way to treat atrial fibrillation. Your doctor can get into your heart—without surgery—and fix the misfiring. It's like working on the spark plugs in your car without having to open the hood. It may seem like a bad idea to destroy parts of your heart on purpose. But the areas that are destroyed are very tiny and don't affect your heart's ability to do its job. You and your doctor can check a few things to see if ablation is a good choice for you. These things include:footnote 3, footnote 4, footnote 5 The choice to have catheter ablation also depends on what you want. Catheter ablation does have some serious risks, but they are rare. Many people decide to have ablation because they hope to feel much better afterward. That hope is worth the risks to them. But the risks may not be worth it for people who have few symptoms or for people who are less likely to be helped by ablation. Many people think that having ablation means they'll be able to stop taking an anticoagulant (also called a blood thinner) every day to prevent stroke. But that is only true if your risk of stroke is low. Studies haven't proved that ablation for atrial fibrillation lowers your risk of stroke. So you'll still need to take an anticoagulant if your risk of stroke remains high. Your doctor can tell you about your stroke risk. Catheter ablation can stop atrial fibrillation from happening and can relieve symptoms. But how well it works can be different for different people. Your doctor can help you decide if ablation is a good choice based on your health. Catheter ablation works better in people who have paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (episodes last 7 days or less) than in people who have persistent atrial fibrillation (episodes last more than 7 days). For both types, episodes may go away on their own or go away after treatment. Ablation might be less likely to work the longer a person has persistent atrial fibrillation.footnote 5 Things that limit how well catheter ablation works include older age and other heart problems.footnote 5You can help lower the chance of atrial fibrillation coming back by having a heart-healthy lifestyle and managing other health problems. Research shows that ablation stops atrial fibrillation from happening for at least 1 year in about 60 to 90 out of 100 people.footnote 5 That means it does not help in about 10 to 40 out of 100 cases. Research shows that ablation stops atrial fibrillation for at least 6 to 12 months in about 60 to 80 out of 100 people.footnote 5 That means it doesn't work in about 20 to 40 out of 100 cases. Atrial fibrillation sometimes returns after an ablation. If the first procedure doesn't get rid of atrial fibrillation completely, you may choose to have it done a second time. Repeated ablations may have a higher chance of success. Most people do well after a catheter ablation. But it does have some risks. Your doctor can help you decide whether the possible benefits of ablation outweigh these risks. If problems happen during or soon after the procedure, your doctor is prepared to fix them right away. Problems that need treatment happen in about 5 out of 100 people.footnote 1 These problems include bleeding, an accidental hole in the heart, and nerve damage in the chest. Rare problems include cardiac tamponade and stroke. They happen in about 1 out of 100 people.footnote 1 This means that they do not happen in about 99 out of 100 people. Death from the procedure is rare, happening to fewer than 1 out of 100 people.footnote 1 Problems after the procedure can be minor (such as mild pain) or serious (such as bleeding). Your doctor will check you closely after the procedure. The most common problems are related to the catheter that was inserted in a vein.footnote 5Many of these vein problems aren't serious. They include minor pain, bleeding, and bruising. But some problems, such as serious bleeding, need treatment. Serious bleeding happens in about 3 out of 100 people.footnote 1 This means that it doesn't happen in about 97 people out of 100. Serious problems are rare. An example is a life-threatening problem with the esophagus (atrio-esophageal fistula) that happens to fewer than 1 out of 100 people.footnote 2 The benefits may outweigh the risks if: The risks may outweigh the benefits if: Compare What is usually involved? What are the benefits? What are the risks and side effects? These stories are based on information gathered from health professionals and consumers. They may be helpful as you make important health decisions. Medicines have helped my symptoms a little, but not completely. My doctor talked to me about catheter ablation, but I really don't want to have a procedure on my heart. I can live with my symptoms for now. Candace, age 58 My doctor has been treating my atrial fibrillation with medicines. But taking them is worse than the palpitations. I'm tired all the time, and I have dizzy spells so often that I can't work. I'm ready to try catheter ablation. Sophie, age 54 I've already tried one medicine to treat my atrial fibrillation. I still had symptoms that bother me a lot, so my doctor prescribed a different medicine. I think I'll try this one before I think about having an ablation. If my new medicine still doesn't help, I can try ablation later. George, age 60 My doctor said the risks of ablation are pretty rare. I just want to get this problem fixed so I feel better. I'm going to have the procedure. Wei, age 49 Your personal feelings are just as important as the medical facts. Think about what matters most to you in this decision, and show how you feel about the following statements. Reasons to have catheter ablation Reasons not to have catheter ablation I'm not worried about having a procedure that involves my heart. I'm very worried about having a procedure that involves my heart. The side effects of my heart medicines are bothering me a lot. The medicine side effects don't bother me that much. I'm bothered a lot by my heart rhythm symptoms. My symptoms don't bother me. I'm not happy with my quality of life, either because of my symptoms or because of medicine side effects. My quality of life is pretty good. The risks of ablation don't bother me as much as the risks of continuing to take my medicines. I prefer the risks of taking my medicines over the risks of having catheter ablation. My other important reasons: My other important reasons: Now that you've thought about the facts and your feelings, you may have a general idea of where you stand on this decision. Show which way you are leaning right now. Having catheter ablation Not having catheter ablation Check the facts Decide what's next Certainty 1. How sure do you feel right now about your decision? Here's a record of your answers. You can use it to talk with your doctor or loved ones about your decision. Normally, the heart has a strong, steady beat. That beat is controlled by the heart's electrical system. Sometimes that system misfires, causing atrial fibrillation. Catheter ablation is a way to treat atrial fibrillation. Your doctor can get into your heart—without surgery—and fix the misfiring. It's like working on the spark plugs in your car without having to open the hood. It may seem like a bad idea to destroy parts of your heart on purpose. But the areas that are destroyed are very tiny and don't affect your heart's ability to do its job. You and your doctor can check a few things to see if ablation is a good choice for you. These things include:3, 4, 5 The choice to have catheter ablation also depends on what you want. Catheter ablation does have some serious risks, but they are rare. Many people decide to have ablation because they hope to feel much better afterward. That hope is worth the risks to them. But the risks may not be worth it for people who have few symptoms or for people who are less likely to be helped by ablation. Many people think that having ablation means they'll be able to stop taking an anticoagulant (also called a blood thinner) every day to prevent stroke. But that is only true if your risk of stroke is low. Studies haven't proved that ablation for atrial fibrillation lowers your risk of stroke. So you'll still need to take an anticoagulant if your risk of stroke remains high. Your doctor can tell you about your stroke risk. Catheter ablation can stop atrial fibrillation from happening and can relieve symptoms. But how well it works can be different for different people. Your doctor can help you decide if ablation is a good choice based on your health. Catheter ablation works better in people who have paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (episodes last 7 days or less) than in people who have persistent atrial fibrillation (episodes last more than 7 days). For both types, episodes may go away on their own or go away after treatment. Ablation might be less likely to work the longer a person has persistent atrial fibrillation.5 Things that limit how well catheter ablation works include older age and other heart problems.5You can help lower the chance of atrial fibrillation coming back by having a heart-healthy lifestyle and managing other health problems. Research shows that ablation stops atrial fibrillation from happening for at least 1 year in about 60 to 90 out of 100 people.5 That means it does not help in about 10 to 40 out of 100 cases. Research shows that ablation stops atrial fibrillation for at least 6 to 12 months in about 60 to 80 out of 100 people.5 That means it doesn't work in about 20 to 40 out of 100 cases. Atrial fibrillation sometimes returns after an ablation. If the first procedure doesn't get rid of atrial fibrillation completely, you may choose to have it done a second time. Repeated ablations may have a higher chance of success. Most people do well after a catheter ablation. But it does have some risks. Your doctor can help you decide whether the possible benefits of ablation outweigh these risks. If problems happen during or soon after the procedure, your doctor is prepared to fix them right away. Problems that need treatment happen in about 5 out of 100 people.1 These problems include bleeding, an accidental hole in the heart, and nerve damage in the chest. Rare problems include cardiac tamponade and stroke. They happen in about 1 out of 100 people.1 This means that they do not happen in about 99 out of 100 people. Death from the procedure is rare, happening to fewer than 1 out of 100 people.1 Problems after the procedure can be minor (such as mild pain) or serious (such as bleeding). Your doctor will check you closely after the procedure. The most common problems are related to the catheter that was inserted in a vein.5Many of these vein problems aren't serious. They include minor pain, bleeding, and bruising. But some problems, such as serious bleeding, need treatment. Serious bleeding happens in about 3 out of 100 people.1 This means that it doesn't happen in about 97 people out of 100. Serious problems are rare. An example is a life-threatening problem with the esophagus (atrio-esophageal fistula) that happens to fewer than 1 out of 100 people.2 The benefits may outweigh the risks if: The risks may outweigh the benefits if: These stories are based on information gathered from health professionals and consumers. They may be helpful as you make important health decisions. "Medicines have helped my symptoms a little, but not completely. My doctor talked to me about catheter ablation, but I really don't want to have a procedure on my heart. I can live with my symptoms for now." — Candace, age 58 "My doctor has been treating my atrial fibrillation with medicines. But taking them is worse than the palpitations. I'm tired all the time, and I have dizzy spells so often that I can't work. I'm ready to try catheter ablation." — Sophie, age 54 "I've already tried one medicine to treat my atrial fibrillation. I still had symptoms that bother me a lot, so my doctor prescribed a different medicine. I think I'll try this one before I think about having an ablation. If my new medicine still doesn't help, I can try ablation later." — George, age 60 "My doctor said the risks of ablation are pretty rare. I just want to get this problem fixed so I feel better. I'm going to have the procedure." — Wei, age 49 Your personal feelings are just as important as the medical facts. Think about what matters most to you in this decision, and show how you feel about the following statements. Reasons to have catheter ablation Reasons not to have catheter ablation I'm not worried about having a procedure that involves my heart. I'm very worried about having a procedure that involves my heart. The side effects of my heart medicines are bothering me a lot. The medicine side effects don't bother me that much. I'm bothered a lot by my heart rhythm symptoms. My symptoms don't bother me. I'm not happy with my quality of life, either because of my symptoms or because of medicine side effects. My quality of life is pretty good. The risks of ablation don't bother me as much as the risks of continuing to take my medicines. I prefer the risks of taking my medicines over the risks of having catheter ablation. My other important reasons: My other important reasons: Now that you've thought about the facts and your feelings, you may have a general idea of where you stand on this decision. Show which way you are leaning right now. Having catheter ablation Not having catheter ablation 1.
Does catheter ablation work well for everyone with atrial fibrillation? 2.
Are blood thinners that are used to lower the risk of stroke still needed after catheter ablation? 3.
If ablation doesn't work the first time, can it be done again? 1.
Do you understand the options available to you? 2.
Are you clear about which benefits and side effects matter most to you? 3.
Do you have enough support and advice from others to make a choice? 1.
How sure do you feel right now about your decision? 2.
Check what you need to do before you make this decision. Current as of: July 31, 2024 Author: Ignite Healthwise, LLC Staff Clinical Review BoardAtrial Fibrillation: Should I Have Catheter Ablation?
Atrial Fibrillation: Should I Have Catheter Ablation?
1
Facts2
Options3
Feelings4
Decision5
Yourself6
Get the facts
Your options
Key points to remember
What is catheter ablation?
When is catheter ablation done?
Taking anticoagulants (blood thinners)
How well does catheter ablation work?
Paroxysmal atrial fibrillation
Persistent atrial fibrillation
Repeated ablation procedures
What are the risks?
Problems during the procedure
Problems after the procedure
Compare your options
Personal stories about considering catheter ablation
What matters most to you?
Where are you leaning now?
What else do you need to make your decision?
Your Summary
Your decision
Next steps
Which way you're leaning
How sure you are
Your comments
Your knowledge of the facts
Key concepts that you understood
Key concepts that may need review
Getting ready to act
Patient choices
Credits and References
Author Ignite Healthwise, LLC Staff Clinical Review Board Clinical Review Board
All Ignite Healthwise, LLC education is reviewed by a team that includes physicians, nurses, advanced practitioners, registered dieticians, and other healthcare professionals.Atrial Fibrillation: Should I Have Catheter Ablation?
1. Get the Facts
Your options
Key points to remember
What is catheter ablation?
When is catheter ablation done?
Taking anticoagulants (blood thinners)
How well does catheter ablation work?
Paroxysmal atrial fibrillation
Persistent atrial fibrillation
Repeated ablation procedures
What are the risks?
Problems during the procedure
Problems after the procedure
2. Compare your options
Have catheter ablation Don't have catheter ablation What is usually involved? What are the benefits? What are the risks and side effects? Personal stories
Personal stories about considering catheter ablation
3. What matters most to you?
4. Where are you leaning now?
5. What else do you need to make your decision?
Check the facts
Decide what's next
Certainty
By Ignite Healthwise, LLC Staff Clinical Review Board Clinical Review Board
All Ignite Healthwise, LLC education is reviewed by a team that includes physicians, nurses, advanced practitioners, registered dieticians, and other healthcare professionals.
Note: The "printer friendly" document will not contain all the information available in the online document some Information (e.g. cross-references to other topics, definitions or medical illustrations) is only available in the online version.
All Ignite Healthwise, LLC education is reviewed by a team that includes physicians, nurses, advanced practitioners, registered dieticians, and other healthcare professionals.