What it means
In cardiac ablation, a catheter threaded into the heart burns or freezes the small area causing an abnormal rhythm, such as in atrial fibrillationAY-tree-ul fib-rih-LAY-shunAn irregular heart rhythm in which the upper chambers of the heart quiver instead of beating in an organized way.atri/o atrium (upper heart chamber)fibrill/o small fibers, quivering-ation processFull entry . Ablation is also used on the lining of the uterus for heavy bleeding (endometrial ablation) and on some tumors.
For the nurse
After cardiac ablation, care is like that after cardiac catheterizationKAR-dee-ak kath-uh-ter-ih-ZAY-shunA procedure in which a thin tube is threaded through a blood vessel into the heart to take pictures, measure pressures or open blocked arteries.Full entry : check the insertion site, the pulses below it and the heart rhythm.
At a glance
| Spanish | ablación |
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| Also written | ablations |
Related terms
arrhythmia
A heart rhythm that is not normal: too fast, too slow or irregular.
atrial fibrillation
An irregular heart rhythm in which the upper chambers of the heart quiver instead of beating in an organized way.
cardiac catheterization
A procedure in which a thin tube is threaded through a blood vessel into the heart to take pictures, measure pressures or open blocked arteries.