Question:
During a heart ablation, is the patient put under anesthesia so they do not move?
During a heart ablation, is the patient put under so they do not move on the table?
Submitted by David from Tennessee on 04/30/2014
Answer:
by J. Alberto Lopez, MD
It depends on the type of ablation. When treating atrial fibrillation or ventricular tachycardia, most doctors will use general anesthesia with endotracheal intubation and mechanical ventilation. Other ablations, like supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) and atrial flutter are mostly done using conscious (IV) sedation.
