Is cryoablation painful?

It is performed under anesthesia, so you may not feel any pain. Once the probe is positioned, you won’t experience any pain, and there won’t be any heat.

Is cryoablation successful?

The cryoablation procedure is highly successful and has a success rate of about 98.2 %. Cryoablation treatment works effectively for many types of atrial fibrillation (AF).

Is cryoablation safe?

Cryoablation is a safe procedure that is recommended for atrial fibrillation. The success rates are also comparatively high. The complications of cryoablation are usually minimal.

Is it safe to perform AFib for elderly people?

Elderly people are prone to atrial fibrillation, cryoablation helps increase the quality of life in the elderly.

How long is the recovery for cryoablation?

You may be able to resume your regular activities the next day. Following cryoablation, recovery time may range from 6 to 24 hours. You may be recommended a few restrictions to follow after cryoablation.

Cryoablation Treatment in Coimbatore

What Is Cryoablation Treatment?

What should you know about it?

Cryoablation is a procedure that is used to restore the normal rhythm by targeting the cells that cause irregular heartbeat (Atrial Fibrillation (AF)). This is a minimally invasive procedure in which a thin flexible tube is inserted called the balloon catheter which helps in identifying the problematic cells and freezes the cells or tissues that are responsible for an irregular heartbeat.

types of atrial fibrillation

What are the types of atrial fibrillation?

The classification of atrial fibrillation is generally made by the frequency and duration. The most common ones include:

Intermittent fibrillation: This type occurs in 2 or more episodes and heartbeat is restored within a few seconds or hours.
Persistent fibrillation: This type of fibrillation lasts for more than 7 days and it requires medical intervention.
Longstanding persistent fibrillation: This type can last for more than a year and can cause several symptoms that might impact daily life. For many types of atrial fibrillation, cryoablation is an effective treatment option to restore the heartbeat.

symptoms

What are the symptoms of atrial fibrillation (AF)?

There are several symptoms of atrial fibrillation that you should not ignore

A fast heartbeat
Severe fatigue
Palpitations
Dizziness
Shortness of breath
Chest tightness
Unable to exercise

Effects of atrial fibrillation

What happens when you have atrial fibrillation?

When numerous chaotic electrical short circuits occur in the upper chambers of the heart, it is referred to as atrial fibrillation (AF). Flurries of electrical sparks from the veins that carry blood from the lungs into the left atrium can cause these, which come from the left atrium. We refer to these veins as the pulmonary veins.
Instead of pumping normally during AF, the upper chambers quiver due to the chaotic electrical activity in these chambers. The lower chambers pump at an abnormally irregular rhythm because they receive fast, irregular signals from above.

complications of Atrial Fibrillation

What are the complications of Atrial Fibrillation (AF)?

The complications of Atrial Fibrillation include

Stroke
Heart failure
Dementia (Memory loss)

Preparation for cryoablation

How should you prepare for the cryoablation procedure?

There are few restrictions you need to follow before undergoing the cryoablation procedure,

In case you are taking any medications for atrial fibrillation, talk to your doctor regarding the medications.
Talking to your cardiologist can help you with the right recommendations to follow before undergoing a cryoablation procedure.

Procedure

How is cryoablation performed?

Depending on the type of atrial fibrillation cryoablation is performed, this procedure involves several steps like

You will be either given general anesthesia or intravenous sedation, depending on the condition and several factors.
Before beginning the procedure, small, thin tubes called the sheaths, are placed on each side of the groin area.
These sheaths help in easy insertion of the catheter. After placing the sheaths, the cryoballoon is then passed through the groin.
Once the catheter is at the target site (left atrium), the balloon is inflated near the abnormal site (Pulmonary vein).
Through the catheter, a special gas coolant is passed through which helps in freezing the target cells.
Once all the target cells are freezed, the catheter is carefully removed and the blood vessel is closed with firm pressure.

Post-cryoblation

How do you feel after the procedure?

Cryoablation procedure may take about 1 hour, during and after the procedure you may need to lie down for a few hours after the procedure.
To relieve the soreness you may be recommended certain medications.
You may feel slight ache or heaviness in your heart cells where the cryoablation has been performed. This ache usually goes away within a day or two.
A little chest discomfort is common, but if you have symptoms like shortness of breath, swelling of hands and legs, you may need to reach out to a doctor immediately.

Precautions

What are the precautions to follow after cryoablation procedure?

After the procedure you may need to follow certain recommendations to help recover quickly,

Prevent the puncture site from getting wet
Take any medications if prescribed by the doctor

advantages of cryoablation

What are the advantages of cryoablation?

There are several advantages of cryoablation,

Highly effective

There are multiple studies that have demonstrated cryoablation’s effectiveness in restoring normal heart rhythm, often eliminating the need for long-term antiarrhythmic medication.

Minimally invasive

Unlike traditional surgical interventions, cryoablation is performed using catheters inserted through small incisions, resulting in less pain, shorter hospital stays, and quicker recovery times.

Precise and safe

Cryoablation offers state-of-the-art treatment for Atrial Fibrillation (irregular heart beat), targeting of abnormal heart tissue while minimizing damage to healthy surrounding tissue, leading to low risk of complications.

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