What to Know About Ablation Therapy

Ablation therapy is a minimally invasive medical procedure that destroys tumors and other abnormal tissues caused by various conditions. Typically, this involves using extremely hot or cold (freezing) temperatures. 

This article will go over everything you need to know about ablation therapy, including what it is, its purpose, how to prepare for the procedure, benefits, risks, and more.

Ablative laser

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What Is Ablation Therapy?

"Ablation" is a general term that refers to the process of destroying, removing, or “reprogramming” abnormal tissue or a part of the body that isn’t functioning correctly. This is usually done by applying extreme heat (thermal ablation) or cold (cryoablation) to the affected area of the body. 

Ablation therapy is used to treat many different conditions, from cancer and heavy menstrual periods to 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, including cardiac ablation, cryoablation for cancer, laserphoto-vaporization prostate (PVP) surgery, and radiofrequency neurotomy.

Cardiac Ablation

Cardiac ablation is used to treat arrhythmias (abnormal heart rhythms) by making tiny scars in heart tissues. These scars can help to stop abnormal electrical signals, normalize your heartbeat, and improve heart function. This type of ablation is often called catheter ablation because it involves placing a thin, flexible tube called a catheter into the heart.

The two types of catheter ablation are:

  • Radiofrequency ablation, which uses extremely hot energy to scar the parts of the heart responsible for the arrhythmia
  • Cryoablation, which involves freezing small parts of the heart with very cold energy

Most commonly, cardiac ablation therapy is used to treat atrial 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 or cryotherapy, 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 an enlarged prostate. It’s often used as a less invasive, less medically risky alternative to transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP), a type of surgical removal of the prostate.

Radiofrequency Neurotomy

Radiofrequency neurotomy, or radiofrequency ablation (RFA), treats chronic nerve pain by delivering a dense, heat-generating electrical current to the affected area via injection. This prevents the affected nerve from delivering pain signals to the brain.

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:

  • Quit smoking
  • Stop taking blood thinners a few days beforehand 
  • Take certain medications, such as sedatives, or blood tests to prepare for the procedure
  • Avoid eating or drinking anything the night before your treatment

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 or general anesthesia. Here’s what’s involved in each of the most common types of ablation therapy procedures:

  • Cardiac ablation: After cleaning and numbing an area of the skin on your groin, neck, or arm, your cardiologist will insert a catheter through a tiny incision into a blood vessel and carefully place it in your heart. They will then use electrodes to find the malfunctioning area of your heart and apply very hot or cold energy to it through the catheter. This typically takes around four hours. You might feel a burning sensation during the procedure.
  • Cryoablation for cancer: In some cases, your healthcare provider may be able to apply liquid nitrogen directly to the skin to freeze and destroy the abnormal tissue. While you’re under anesthesia (either general or local), they can also use an instrument called a cryoprobe to deliver the argon gas or liquid nitrogen to the tumor.
  • Laser PVP surgery: To “vaporize” excess prostate tissue, your healthcare provider will insert a cystoscope (a small tube with a tiny camera attached) into the penis and guide it up to the prostate. They will use the cystoscope to see where the excess tissue is located before destroying it with a high-powered laser.
  • Radiofrequency neurotomy: During a radiofrequency neurotomy for chronic pain, your healthcare provider will use a fluoroscopy (a continuous X-ray that shows images in real time) to place a needle into the painful area of your body, near the nerve. Then, they’ll deliver local anesthetic before applying an electrical current to the affected tissue.

Benefits

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:

  • Shorter recovery time
  • Fewer medical expenses
  • Less pain
  • Lower chance of severe postsurgical bleeding and other complications
  • Lower chance of damage to surrounding healthy tissue

For several reasons, ablation therapy could be a better choice than alternative procedures. For example, you may consider ablation therapy if you:

  • Take blood thinners
  • Have a bleeding disorder
  • Can’t undergo general anesthesia
  • Are immunocompromised
  • Have certain conditions, such as diabetes, kidney disease, heart disease, or liver disease 
  • Are over 65 years old

Risks and Side Effects

Depending on the type of ablation therapy you undergo, there are potential risks and side effects, including:

  • Cramping
  • Bleeding
  • Blood clots
  • Swelling
  • Scarring
  • Damage to nearby tissues and body parts
  • Nerve damage
  • In cardiac ablation, heart attack or fluid around the heart
  • In laser PVP surgery, urinary problems or erectile dysfunction

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

Ablation therapy is a medical treatment that works to destroy or remove abnormal tissue by applying extreme heat or cold. It’s minimally invasive and can often be performed in an outpatient setting. 

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 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
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Laura Dorwart

By Laura Dorwart
Laura Dorwart is a health journalist with particular interests in mental health, pregnancy-related conditions, and disability rights. She has published work in VICE, SELF, The New York Times, The Guardian, The Week, HuffPost, BuzzFeed Reader, Catapult, Pacific Standard, Health.com, Insider, Forbes.com, TalkPoverty, and many other outlets.