AV node ablation - Type - Mayo Clinic
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AV (atrioventricular) node ablation is a treatment for an irregularly fast and disorganized heartbeat called atrial fibrillation. It uses heat (radiofrequency) energy to destroy a small amount of tissue between the upper and lower chambers of the heart (AV node). If you have AV node ablation, you will need a permanent device implanted to control your heart rhythm (pacemaker). Why it s done
Your health care provider may recommend AV node ablation if you have atrial fibrillation that hasn't improved with medication or other treatments. It's generally considered the last option because it requires the placement of a pacemaker. What you can expect
Before the procedure
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AV node ablation
In atrioventricular (AV) node ablation, a heart doctor uses radiofrequency energy to destroy the electrical connection between the upper and lower heart chambers (AV node), blocking the heart's electrical impulses. Once the AV node is destroyed, the heart doctor then implants a small medical device to maintain a heart rhythm (pacemaker). Your health care provider will order several tests to check your heart health. Your care provider will tell you how to prepare and what to bring to the hospital. After an AV node ablation, a pacemaker is necessary for proper heart function. You may have this device placed several weeks before your ablation to make sure it is working well, or it may be done the day of your ablation. During the procedure
Cardiac ablation is done in the hospital. A care provider will insert an IV into your forearm or hand and give you medication to help you relax. During the procedure, you may be awake, lightly sedated or under general anesthesia (fully asleep), depending on your type of arrhythmia and other health conditions. The doctor inserts the catheter through a blood vessel, usually in your groin, and into your heart. Sensors on the tip of the catheter apply heat (radiofrequency energy) to the heart tissue at the AV node and destroy the electrical signaling connection. Once the AV node is destroyed, your doctor implants a pacemaker, unless you already have one. You will need the pacemaker for the rest of your life. After
You'll be taken to a recovery area where care providers will closely monitor your condition. Depending on your condition, you may be allowed to go home the same day or you may spend a night in the hospital. Results
After AV node ablation, your symptoms and quality of life will likely improve. You will need a permanent pacemaker to control your heart rate, and may need to take blood thinners to reduce your risk of a stroke. By Mayo Clinic Staff Request an Appointment at Mayo Clinic April 30, 2022 Print Share on: FacebookTwitter Show references AskMayoExpert. Atrial fibrillation. Mayo Clinic; 2020. Ferri FF. Atrial fibrillation. In: Ferri's Clinical Advisor 2021. Elsevier; 2021. https://www.clinicalkey.com. Accessed Feb. 5, 2021. Bonow RO, et al., eds. Atrial fibrillation: Clinical features, mechanisms and management. In: Braunwald's Heart Disease: A Textbook of Cardiovascular Medicine. 11th ed. Elsevier; 2019. https://www.clinicalkey.com. Accessed Feb. 5, 2021. January CT, et al. 2019 AHA/ACC/HRS focused update of the 2014 AHA/ACC/HRS guideline for the management of patients with atrial fibrillation: A report of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Task Force on Clinical Practice Guidelines and the Heart Rhythm Society in collaboration with the Society of Thoracic Surgeons. Circulation. 2019; doi:10.1161/CIR.0000000000000665. Zipes DP, et al., eds. Catheter ablation: Technical aspects. In: Cardiac Electrophysiology: From Cell to Bedside. 7th ed. Elsevier; 2018. https://www.clinicalkey.com. Accessed Feb. 2, 2021. Noseworthy PA (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic. Feb. 2, 2021. Catheter ablation. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health-topics/catheter-ablation. Accessed Jan. 21, 2021. Atrial fibrillation. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health-topics/atrial-fibrillation. Accessed Feb. 4, 2021. Related
Atrial fibrillation Atrial fibrillation Atrial flutter AV node ablation Cardiac ablation Catheter insertion points for cardiac ablation Mayo Clinic Minute: Identifying and treating atrial fibrillation Typical heartbeat Show more related content Mayo Clinic in Rochester Minnesota has been recognized as one of the top Cardiology & Heart Surgery hospitals in the nation for 2022-2023 by U S News & World Report
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