Using extreme heat to disrupt electrical signals causing an abnormal heart rhythm
Radiofrequency ablation uses heat (similar to microwave heat) to destroy a small area of tissue that is triggering a rapid or irregular heartbeat known as atrial fibrillation, or AFib. Your doctors may recommend this therapy if your AFib can’t be controlled by medicine.
The specialists in our Electrophysiology Program have expertise in performing many types of atrial fibrillation ablation and will work with you to find the best treatment for your unique situation.
What to expect during radiofrequency ablation for atrial fibrillation
While radiofrequency ablation can be performed as open-heart surgery, we commonly do it as a minimally invasive cardiac catheterization procedure.
You may be given a sedative to help you relax, but you will remain awake throughout the procedure. A local anesthetic will be injected to numb the area in the arm or groin where the doctor will insert the catheter. They will guide it through a blood vessel to the heart and send small electrical impulses through an electrode catheter to identify the abnormal tissue causing the arrhythmia. The doctor will then send a mild, painless burst of heat through the catheter to cause tiny scars and restore your heart’s regular heart rhythm.
The procedure takes two to four hours, and you’ll likely be able to go home the same day.
Video
Radiofrequency ablation is a medical procedure used to correct an arrhythmia or irregular heartbeat.
Conditions
Atrial fibrillation, or AFib, is a type of arrhythmia (abnormal heartbeat) in which the heart’s two upper chambers do not beat in sync with the two lower chambers.
Tests
Chest X-ray
Chest X-rays use a small dose of radiation to create pictures of the structures inside the chest, including the lungs, heart, and chest wall.
Echocardiogram
An echocardiogram uses high-frequency sound waves to create images of your heart.
Electrocardiogram (ECG)
An electrocardiogram, also known as an ECG, measures the heart’s electrical activity.
Event Monitors
An event monitor is a small device that records the heart’s electrical activity. It’s similar to an electrocardiogram, but where an electrocardiogram takes place over a few minutes, an event monitor measures heart rhythms over a much longer time.
Holter Monitors
A Holter monitor is a small device that records the heart’s electrical activity. It’s similar to an electrocardiogram, but whereas an electrocardiogram records over a few minutes, a Holter monitor records over the course of a day or two.
Stress Tests
Stress tests are used to assess how your heart works during physical activity. There are several types of stress tests, including treadmill or bike stress tests, nuclear stress tests, stress echocardiograms, and chemically induced stress tests.
Our providers
Location: Change location Enter your location
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Steven Ilan Abramson, MBBCH MD
Anesthesiology
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Gbenga Adeyemi Adeyeye, DO
Vascular And Interventional Radiology, Interventional Radiology & Interventional and Diagnostic Radiology
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Hala Ashraf, DO
Emergency Medicine, Emergeny Medicine, Hospice And Palliative Medicine & Palliative Medicine
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Amarah Baluch, MD
Rheumatology
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Michael Shawn Goldstein, MD
Cardiac Electrophysiology
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Richard Paul Jones, MD
Cardiac Electrophysiology
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Arash Khoie, MD
Pain Medicine
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Sandra Favretto Kuszewski, ACNP-BC MSN
Cardiology
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Minhal Makshood, MD
Internal Medicine, Cardiology & Cardiovascular Disease
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Ripple Mehta, MD
Internal Medicine & Gastroenterology
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Jacob Philip Reiss, MD
Cardiovascular Disease
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Megan Shelly, MS PA
Cardiology
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Mikisa Solomon, MD
Palliative Medicine
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Apostolos Tsimploulis, MD
Cardiac Electrophysiology
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Sara E. Wanner, ACNP-BC MSN
Cardiology & Cardiac Electrophysiology
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Emmaline Wuensch, MSN NP vCER
Transplant Surgery
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Our locations
Distance from Change locationEnter your location
MedStar Health: Cardiac Electrophysiology at MedStar Union Memorial Hospital - Calvert Street Building
3300 North Calvert Street Calvert Street Building First Floor Baltimore, MD 21218
410-554-2044
MedStar Health: Cardiac Electrophysiology at MedStar Washington Hospital Center - Main Hospital
110 Irving Street, NW S5A-12 Washington, DC 20010
855-430-5304
MedStar Health: Cardiac Electrophysiology at MedStar Franklin Square - White Square Professional Building
9105 Franklin Square Dr. Suite 209 Baltimore, MD 21237
410-554-2440
MedStar Health: Cardiac Electrophysiology at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital
3800 Reservoir Road Northwest MedStar Georgetown University Hospital Washington, DC 20007
855-430-5304
MedStar Health: Cardiac Electrophysiology at MedStar Southern Maryland Hospital Center
7501 Surratts Road Suite 306 Clinton, MD 20735
301-877-4469
Additional information
Electrophysiology Program
We are leaders in developing and using the latest procedures and technologies to treat heart rhythm disorders, and our cardiac electrophysiology laboratory is one of the most sophisticated in North America.
Insurance
MedStar Health accepts most major health insurance plans. If you are uncertain as to whether your individual health insurance plan is accepted at MedStar Health, please call your insurance company.