Your Child’s Catheter Ablation

It is natural to have questions about your child’s Catheter Ablation.  Below is information about this procedure.  As a parent or family caregiver, you are our most important partner. If you have any questions or concerns, please let us know.

About Catheter Ablation

Electricity flows through your child’s heart. When it’s flowing smoothly, your child’s heart is beating normally. But sometimes this flow can be:

• blocked by cells.   
• sent down or detoured through an extra electrical pathway.

This can cause your child’s heart to beat too fast, too slow or unevenly (arrhythmia). Catheter Ablation is a medical procedure that removes these cells or extra electrical pathways so your child’s heart can beat at the right rhythm and speed. 

Catheter Ablation is done by a special kind of doctor who treats heart rhythm problems in children (pediatric electrophysiologist). During the procedure, thin bendy tubes (catheters) are put into the blood vessels at the top of the thighs (groin area) and neck. The catheters are guided into the heart. The doctor finds and gets rid of the pathways or cells that are causing the problem.

 Cather Ablation:

• can treat many different types of arrhythmias.
• is low risk.
• has a high success rate.
• can eliminate the need for long-term drug therapy.
• can cut the risk of developing other heart rhythm problems.                                      

But Catheter Ablation is not for everyone. Your child’s doctor will talk with you about the risks and benefits for your child.

During the Procedure

Our team does the Catheter Ablation in the electrophysiology suite. Here, your child is cared for by a team of highly trained doctors and nurses. Your child will get medicine (anesthesia) so that he or she will sleep during the procedure.

The doctor performs a special test (electrophysiology study) to find the exact spot that’s causing the problem. The doctor then applies energy to the tip of the catheter, getting rid of the heart cells or extra pathway that is causing the problem.

Our medical team uses state-of-the-art imaging that gives a very-detailed real-time 3D (three dimensional) picture of your child’s heart.

After the Procedure

The procedure usually takes 4-6 hours. After your child wakes up, he or she will need to lie still with straight legs for about 4 hours. This lets the veins in the leg heal. There are no stitches or bandages on the puncture sites, just band-aids.

Most children stay overnight and go home the next day. Recovery time is short. Your child should be able to resume his or her usual activities and go back to school within 48 hours. There is no pain, but your child’s groin site may be a little bruised for a few days.

We will see your child for a follow-up about a month after the procedure.

 

We want to partner with you to provide the safest and best care for your child.

If you have any questions or concerns, please let us know.

 

Created in partnership with families and expertise from our Sala Institute for Child and Family Centered Care

© NYU Langone Health. All rights reserved. Reviewed for health literacy. This information is not intended as a substitute for professional medical care. Always follow your health care provider's instructions.

Your Child’s Catheter Ablation

It is natural to have questions about your child’s Catheter Ablation.  Below is information about this procedure.  As a parent or family caregiver, you are our most important partner. If you have any questions or concerns, please let us know.

About Catheter Ablation

Electricity flows through your child’s heart. When it’s flowing smoothly, your child’s heart is beating normally. But sometimes this flow can be:

• blocked by cells.   
• sent down or detoured through an extra electrical pathway.

This can cause your child’s heart to beat too fast, too slow or unevenly (arrhythmia). Catheter Ablation is a medical procedure that removes these cells or extra electrical pathways so your child’s heart can beat at the right rhythm and speed. 

Catheter Ablation is done by a special kind of doctor who treats heart rhythm problems in children (pediatric electrophysiologist). During the procedure, thin bendy tubes (catheters) are put into the blood vessels at the top of the thighs (groin area) and neck. The catheters are guided into the heart. The doctor finds and gets rid of the pathways or cells that are causing the problem.

 Cather Ablation:

• can treat many different types of arrhythmias.
• is low risk.
• has a high success rate.
• can eliminate the need for long-term drug therapy.
• can cut the risk of developing other heart rhythm problems.                                      

But Catheter Ablation is not for everyone. Your child’s doctor will talk with you about the risks and benefits for your child.

During the Procedure

Our team does the Catheter Ablation in the electrophysiology suite. Here, your child is cared for by a team of highly trained doctors and nurses. Your child will get medicine (anesthesia) so that he or she will sleep during the procedure.

The doctor performs a special test (electrophysiology study) to find the exact spot that’s causing the problem. The doctor then applies energy to the tip of the catheter, getting rid of the heart cells or extra pathway that is causing the problem.

Our medical team uses state-of-the-art imaging that gives a very-detailed real-time 3D (three dimensional) picture of your child’s heart.

After the Procedure

The procedure usually takes 4-6 hours. After your child wakes up, he or she will need to lie still with straight legs for about 4 hours. This lets the veins in the leg heal. There are no stitches or bandages on the puncture sites, just band-aids.

Most children stay overnight and go home the next day. Recovery time is short. Your child should be able to resume his or her usual activities and go back to school within 48 hours. There is no pain, but your child’s groin site may be a little bruised for a few days.

We will see your child for a follow-up about a month after the procedure.

 

We want to partner with you to provide the safest and best care for your child.

If you have any questions or concerns, please let us know.

 

Created in partnership with families and expertise from our Sala Institute for Child and Family Centered Care

© NYU Langone Health. All rights reserved. Reviewed for health literacy. This information is not intended as a substitute for professional medical care. Always follow your health care provider's instructions.

Your Child’s Catheter Ablation

It is natural to have questions about your child’s Catheter Ablation.  Below is information about this procedure.  As a parent or family caregiver, you are our most important partner. If you have any questions or concerns, please let us know.

About Catheter Ablation

Electricity flows through your child’s heart. When it’s flowing smoothly, your child’s heart is beating normally. But sometimes this flow can be:

• blocked by cells.   
• sent down or detoured through an extra electrical pathway.

This can cause your child’s heart to beat too fast, too slow or unevenly (arrhythmia). Catheter Ablation is a medical procedure that removes these cells or extra electrical pathways so your child’s heart can beat at the right rhythm and speed. 

Catheter Ablation is done by a special kind of doctor who treats heart rhythm problems in children (pediatric electrophysiologist). During the procedure, thin bendy tubes (catheters) are put into the blood vessels at the top of the thighs (groin area) and neck. The catheters are guided into the heart. The doctor finds and gets rid of the pathways or cells that are causing the problem.

 Cather Ablation:

• can treat many different types of arrhythmias.
• is low risk.
• has a high success rate.
• can eliminate the need for long-term drug therapy.
• can cut the risk of developing other heart rhythm problems.                                      

But Catheter Ablation is not for everyone. Your child’s doctor will talk with you about the risks and benefits for your child.

During the Procedure

Our team does the Catheter Ablation in the electrophysiology suite. Here, your child is cared for by a team of highly trained doctors and nurses. Your child will get medicine (anesthesia) so that he or she will sleep during the procedure.

The doctor performs a special test (electrophysiology study) to find the exact spot that’s causing the problem. The doctor then applies energy to the tip of the catheter, getting rid of the heart cells or extra pathway that is causing the problem.

Our medical team uses state-of-the-art imaging that gives a very-detailed real-time 3D (three dimensional) picture of your child’s heart.

After the Procedure

The procedure usually takes 4-6 hours. After your child wakes up, he or she will need to lie still with straight legs for about 4 hours. This lets the veins in the leg heal. There are no stitches or bandages on the puncture sites, just band-aids.

Most children stay overnight and go home the next day. Recovery time is short. Your child should be able to resume his or her usual activities and go back to school within 48 hours. There is no pain, but your child’s groin site may be a little bruised for a few days.

We will see your child for a follow-up about a month after the procedure.

 

We want to partner with you to provide the safest and best care for your child.

If you have any questions or concerns, please let us know.

 

Created in partnership with families and expertise from our Sala Institute for Child and Family Centered Care

© NYU Langone Health. All rights reserved. Reviewed for health literacy. This information is not intended as a substitute for professional medical care. Always follow your health care provider's instructions.