The Success Rates of Cardiac Ablation

Featuring Dr. Atul Verma, MD, FRCPC, Cardiologist Southlake Regional Health Centre

Duration: 1 minute, 44 seconds

As far as the success rate is concerned, the success rate of atrial fibrillation ablation is not 100 percent. After one procedure, the success rate is approximately 70 to 80 percent, and this is influenced by the type of atrial fibrillation that you have.

For example, if you’re the type of person who goes in and out of atrial fibrillation, we call this paroxysmal atrial fibrillation, then your success rate will be higher, closer to 80 percent. On the other hand, if you’re constantly in atrial fibrillation, we call this persistent atrial fibrillation, then your success rate is going to be lower, closer to 70 percent.

Even if you’re not one of these 70 or 80 percent of patients who has a complete success, you may find that your atrial fibrillation is substantially improved. But if it’s still occurring enough, we can go back and do a second procedure. And after a second procedure, your success rate will be anywhere from 80 to 90 percent.

If you have any more questions about your atrial fibrillation or whether you may be a potential candidate for ablation for your atrial fibrillation, feel free to contact your local health professional, your cardiologist, or have them refer you to the heart rhythm program here at Southlake Regional Health Centre, where we’ll be happy to do a consultation.

Presenter: Dr. Atul Verma, Electrophysiologist, Montreal, QC

Local Practitioners: Electrophysiologist