What is Cryoablation?
Cryoablation is a cardiac ablation method that uses intense cold to freeze a small area of heart tissue responsible for an irregular heartbeat. During the procedure, a catheter with a cooling probe is guided through a blood vessel to a precise point in the heart. This targeted destruction of tissue interrupts abnormal electrical signals. Unlike radiofrequency ablation, which uses heat, cryoablation uses cold.
Why is Cryoablation Done?
For some adult patients with atrial fibrillation, cryoablation may be an effective treatment when medicine does not control symptoms or causes bothersome side effects. It may also be considered as a primary treatment for selected patients. The care plan outlined by the cardiology department depends on the rhythm problem, the patient’s health, and the goals of therapy. Some arrhythmias can lead to life threatening complications if they are not appropriately treated.
Before starting, the care team gives anesthesia to manage discomfort; this may include local anesthesia at the catheter insertion site. The catheter passes through the skin and a blood vessel into the heart while the team monitors its position and electrical activity. The goal is to target the source of the abnormal rhythm while limiting pain and effects on surrounding tissue.
A single procedure can improve symptoms, but success varies. Follow-up over the following months helps assess the outcome and watch for recurrence; some patients need longer monitoring or additional treatment. Published evidence, including each study of cryoablation’s effectiveness, helps guide care, and researchers continue to compare its results with other ablation techniques. Preliminary results from any one study should be considered in the context of the broader research.
Cryoablation in other areas of medicine: The same term also describes an addition of procedures used to freeze tumors elsewhere in the body, including selected cases of kidney cancer, prostate cancer, and breast cancer. In those procedures, specialists in fields such as urology may use ultrasound or other imaging to guide a probe toward cancer or residual cancer. Depending on the application, freezing may involve a cold gas or liquid nitrogen. These cancer procedures are separate from cardiac cryoablation, and whether one is safe and appropriate depends on the individual diagnosis.
Cryoablation is a cardiac ablation method that uses intense cold to freeze a small area of heart tissue responsible for an irregular heartbeat. During the procedure, a catheter with a cooling probe is guided through a blood vessel to a precise point in the heart. This targeted destruction of tissue interrupts abnormal electrical signals. Unlike radiofrequency ablation, which uses heat, cryoablation uses cold.
When is Cryoablation an Effective Treatment?
Dr. Beshai may recommend cryoablation after an ECG test shows an irregular heartbeat, diagnosing you with an arrhythmia condition. Symptoms of an irregular heartbeat can include:
- Heart fluttering
- Heart murmur
- Fainting
- Dizziness
- Shortness of breath
- Weakness and fatigue
These symptoms can all be a result of the blood not pumping blood through its chambers efficiently. Dr. Beshai will only suggest cryotherapy after the appropriate testing has been conducted. Treatment with cryotherapy can reduce the risk of serious complications related to arrhythmias such as blood clots, stroke, and heart failure.
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How is Cryoablation Performed?
Cryotherapy can be performed at the same time as heart surgery, but it is most often performed with the use of catheters. Prior to treatment, a nurse will administer anesthesia and sedation to ensure your comfort throughout the process. The area where the catheters will be inserted will be cleaned, shaved, and numbed. Catheters will be inserted into a vein, typically in the groin, but a vein in the neck or forearm is sometimes used instead.
o insert the catheters, a thin needle will first be placed in the vein. A thin tube will then be placed through the needle, and the catheters will be placed through the tube and guided to different areas of the heart. Each catheter has an electrode tip that can both detect the heart’s electrical signals and give Dr. Beshai a visual of the heart.
Once the suspected abnormal area of the heart has been identified, the catheter tips cool the tissue to -25 degrees Celsius. This allows Dr. Beshai to test the heart tissue before permanently destroying it. Once it has been confirmed that the tissue is responsible for causing irregular activity, it will be cooled to about -75 degrees, permanently destroying it to restore regular electrical signals in the heart. This process can take between 2-4 hours to complete.
What are the Next Steps After Cryoablation?
After cryoablation, you will be moved to a recovery room where you can rest and be monitored. Some mild soreness can be expected, but most patients can get right back to their regular routine with no downtime. You will have a follow-up appointment with Dr. Beshai for testing to ensure that cryoablation was successful at restoring the heart’s electrical activity. In some cases, further treatment is needed.
Schedule Your Cryoablation Appointment
Dr. Beshai is highly experienced with performing cryoablation to manage an irregular heartbeat or arrhythmias condition. Treatment will cryoablation is very successful in most cases and can prevent cardiac conditions from developing into a more serious problem. To learn more about the treatment and cardiac testing, schedule your appointment at the Heart Rhythm Institute of Arizona.
The Heart Institute of Arizona has a wide array of services that come with our premium care. From in-office dianostics and treatable conditions, to hospital based procedures, we’ve got your heart covered.
Dr. Beshai is a board-certified electrophysiologist internationally renowned and respected for his expertise and research. Having published in major medical journals and travelled all over the world to present research, he is dedicated to providing innovative, state-of-the-art care to his patients.