Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsWhat Is It?TypesWhy Is It Performed?PreparationDuring the ProcedureBenefitsRisks and Side EffectsAfter the ProcedureLong-Term Outlook
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
What Is It?
Types
Why Is It Performed?
Preparation
During the Procedure
Benefits
Risks and Side Effects
After the Procedure
Long-Term Outlook
This article will go over everything you need to know about ablation therapy, including what it is, itspurpose, how to prepare for the procedure, benefits, risks, and more.
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What Is Ablation Therapy?
Ablation therapy is used to treat many different conditions, from cancer andheavy menstrual periodsto heart problems. Usually, it’s a minimally invasive procedure that doesn’t require a great deal of recovery time. It’s safe and effective in addressing a wide variety of health concerns.
Ablation Types
There are several different types of ablation therapy, includingcardiac ablation, cryoablation for cancer, laserphoto-vaporization prostate (PVP) surgery, and radiofrequency neurotomy.
Cardiac Ablation
The two types of catheter ablation are:
Most commonly, cardiac ablation therapy is used to treatatrial fibrillation(AF or AFib). Atrial fibrillation causes an irregular heartbeat in the heart’s two upper chambers and disrupts blood flow to the two lower chambers.
Cryoablation for Cancer
Cryoablation, also called cryosurgery orcryotherapy, freezes and kills abnormal tissue using argon gas or liquid nitrogen. This type of ablation therapy can be used to remove malignant tumors in people with certain cancers, such as skin cancer, liver cancer, or bone cancer. It can also remove certain benign tumors and precancerous cells.
Laser PVP Surgery
Laser PVP surgery is a type of ablation therapy that uses a green light laser to remove all or some of the prostate gland in people with anenlarged prostate. It’s often used as a less invasive, less medically risky alternative totransurethral resection of the prostate(TURP), a type of surgical removal of the prostate.
Radiofrequency Neurotomy
Why Is Ablation Performed?
Ablation therapy is used to treat many different health conditions, such as:
How to Prepare for Ablation Therapy
Before your ablation procedure, tell your healthcare provider about any medications you’re taking and if you’re not feeling well. To avoid complications, they might suggest that you:
What Happens During an Ablation Therapy Procedure
Ablation therapy may be performed either in an outpatient clinic or at a hospital, and you may be under either local orgeneral anesthesia. Here’s what’s involved in each of the most common types of ablation therapy procedures:
Ablation therapy is minimally invasive, making it an attractive alternative to many other treatment options. Undergoing ablation therapy instead of more invasive surgery may result in:
For several reasons, ablation therapy could be a better choice than alternative procedures. For example, you may consider ablation therapy if you:
Depending on the type of ablation therapy you undergo, there are potential risks and side effects, including:
What Happens After the Procedure?
After completing your ablation therapy, you may be asked to remain in bed for several hours. You might have to stay overnight for monitoring at the hospital or be released that day, depending on your procedure. If you were under general anesthesia, it could take you around 24 hours to stop feeling groggy and disoriented. Either way, someone else should drive you home from the medical facility.
Many people can resume normal activity just a few days after ablation therapy. After cardiac ablation, you might experience symptoms like an irregular or rapid heartbeat, fatigue, and aching pain in your chest for two to three days.
What’s the Long-Term Outlook After Ablation Therapy?
Ablation therapy is safe and effective for many people. In addition to destroying abnormal tissue and restoring proper organ function, it can also prevent tumors from getting bigger or coming back.
However, there is a chance that you may have to repeat the procedure later on for best results. For example, people who undergo laser PVP surgery for an enlarged prostate may have to get another procedure in about five to 10 years.
Summary
Some of the most common types of ablation therapy include cardiac (catheter) ablation, cryoablation for cancer, laser PVP surgery, and radiofrequency neurotomy. Ablation can be used to remove malignant tumors, treat heart arrhythmias, relieve chronic pain, and treat an enlarged prostate.
11 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Cancer Institute.Ablation.National Cancer Institute.Thermal ablation.MedlinePlus.Endometrial ablation.MedlinePlus.Cardiac ablation procedures.U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Atrial fibrillation.National Cancer Institute.Cryosurgery to treat cancer.Castellani D, Pirola GM, Rubilotta E, Gubbiotti M, Scarcella S, Maggi M, Gauhar V, Teoh JY, Galosi AB.GreenLight Laser™ photovaporization versus transurethral resection of the prostate: A systematic review and meta-analysis.Res Rep Urol. 2021;13:263-271. doi:10.2147/RRU.S277482Lee DW, Pritzlaff S, Jung MJ, Ghosh P, Hagedorn JM, Tate J, Scarfo K, Strand N, Chakravarthy K, Sayed D, Deer TR, Amirdelfan K.Latest evidence-based application for radiofrequency neurotomy (LEARN): Best practice guidelines from the American Society of Pain and Neuroscience (ASPN).J Pain Res. 2021;14:2807-2831. doi:10.2147/JPR.S325665MedlinePlus.Enlarged prostate.Park J, Cho SY, Cho MC, Jeong H, Son H.Changes in erectile function after photoselective vaporization of the prostate with a 120-W GreenLight high-performance system laser: 2-year follow-up.World J Mens Health. 2017;35(3):156-162. doi:10.5534/wjmh.17027National Cancer Institute.Cryosurgery to treat cancer.
11 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Cancer Institute.Ablation.National Cancer Institute.Thermal ablation.MedlinePlus.Endometrial ablation.MedlinePlus.Cardiac ablation procedures.U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Atrial fibrillation.National Cancer Institute.Cryosurgery to treat cancer.Castellani D, Pirola GM, Rubilotta E, Gubbiotti M, Scarcella S, Maggi M, Gauhar V, Teoh JY, Galosi AB.GreenLight Laser™ photovaporization versus transurethral resection of the prostate: A systematic review and meta-analysis.Res Rep Urol. 2021;13:263-271. doi:10.2147/RRU.S277482Lee DW, Pritzlaff S, Jung MJ, Ghosh P, Hagedorn JM, Tate J, Scarfo K, Strand N, Chakravarthy K, Sayed D, Deer TR, Amirdelfan K.Latest evidence-based application for radiofrequency neurotomy (LEARN): Best practice guidelines from the American Society of Pain and Neuroscience (ASPN).J Pain Res. 2021;14:2807-2831. doi:10.2147/JPR.S325665MedlinePlus.Enlarged prostate.Park J, Cho SY, Cho MC, Jeong H, Son H.Changes in erectile function after photoselective vaporization of the prostate with a 120-W GreenLight high-performance system laser: 2-year follow-up.World J Mens Health. 2017;35(3):156-162. doi:10.5534/wjmh.17027National Cancer Institute.Cryosurgery to treat cancer.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
National Cancer Institute.Ablation.National Cancer Institute.Thermal ablation.MedlinePlus.Endometrial ablation.MedlinePlus.Cardiac ablation procedures.U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Atrial fibrillation.National Cancer Institute.Cryosurgery to treat cancer.Castellani D, Pirola GM, Rubilotta E, Gubbiotti M, Scarcella S, Maggi M, Gauhar V, Teoh JY, Galosi AB.GreenLight Laser™ photovaporization versus transurethral resection of the prostate: A systematic review and meta-analysis.Res Rep Urol. 2021;13:263-271. doi:10.2147/RRU.S277482Lee DW, Pritzlaff S, Jung MJ, Ghosh P, Hagedorn JM, Tate J, Scarfo K, Strand N, Chakravarthy K, Sayed D, Deer TR, Amirdelfan K.Latest evidence-based application for radiofrequency neurotomy (LEARN): Best practice guidelines from the American Society of Pain and Neuroscience (ASPN).J Pain Res. 2021;14:2807-2831. doi:10.2147/JPR.S325665MedlinePlus.Enlarged prostate.Park J, Cho SY, Cho MC, Jeong H, Son H.Changes in erectile function after photoselective vaporization of the prostate with a 120-W GreenLight high-performance system laser: 2-year follow-up.World J Mens Health. 2017;35(3):156-162. doi:10.5534/wjmh.17027National Cancer Institute.Cryosurgery to treat cancer.
National Cancer Institute.Ablation.
National Cancer Institute.Thermal ablation.
MedlinePlus.Endometrial ablation.
MedlinePlus.Cardiac ablation procedures.
U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Atrial fibrillation.
National Cancer Institute.Cryosurgery to treat cancer.
Castellani D, Pirola GM, Rubilotta E, Gubbiotti M, Scarcella S, Maggi M, Gauhar V, Teoh JY, Galosi AB.GreenLight Laser™ photovaporization versus transurethral resection of the prostate: A systematic review and meta-analysis.Res Rep Urol. 2021;13:263-271. doi:10.2147/RRU.S277482
Lee DW, Pritzlaff S, Jung MJ, Ghosh P, Hagedorn JM, Tate J, Scarfo K, Strand N, Chakravarthy K, Sayed D, Deer TR, Amirdelfan K.Latest evidence-based application for radiofrequency neurotomy (LEARN): Best practice guidelines from the American Society of Pain and Neuroscience (ASPN).J Pain Res. 2021;14:2807-2831. doi:10.2147/JPR.S325665
MedlinePlus.Enlarged prostate.
Park J, Cho SY, Cho MC, Jeong H, Son H.Changes in erectile function after photoselective vaporization of the prostate with a 120-W GreenLight high-performance system laser: 2-year follow-up.World J Mens Health. 2017;35(3):156-162. doi:10.5534/wjmh.17027
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