AF ablation is usually performed under general anaesthetic or deep sedation, so you will be asleep throughout. You will not be aware of the procedure.
Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common sustained heart rhythm disorder in the UK, affecting an estimated 1.5 million people. It happens when the upper chambers of the heart send out chaotic electrical signals, causing the heart to beat in an irregular and often fast way. This can cause palpitations, breathlessness, tiredness, and dizziness - and for many people, it significantly affects quality of life and what they can do day to day.
Catheter ablation for AF is recommended by the European Society of Cardiology for patients with symptomatic AF, particularly those where medications have not given enough relief. It is the most effective rhythm control strategy currently available and offers many patients a significant reduction in AF - and for some, long-term freedom from it.
In most people with AF, the abnormal electrical signals that trigger the condition come from the pulmonary veins - the four blood vessels that carry oxygen-rich blood from the lungs to the heart. The cornerstone of AF ablation is a technique called pulmonary vein isolation (PVI). This involves creating a ring of scar tissue around each pulmonary vein to electrically disconnect it from the rest of the heart, removing the main trigger for AF.
This is achieved by passing thin, flexible wires through a vein in the groin and into the heart. Using advanced 3D mapping technology and real-time imaging, the precise structure of your heart is mapped, and targeted energy is delivered to isolate the pulmonary veins. In some patients - particularly those with persistent or long-standing AF - additional areas may need to be treated beyond the pulmonary veins.
Dr. Kaba uses the latest ablation technologies available, including the Farapulse pulsed field ablation system by Boston Scientific. Unlike older methods that use heat or freezing, Farapulse uses short, targeted bursts of electrical energy that selectively affect heart muscle cells, without damaging surrounding tissues such as the oesophagus or nearby nerves.
Dr. Kaba was the first doctor in the UK to use this system combined with the Opal HDx mapping platform, and has since performed numerous further cases with this technology. This gives patients at our London clinics access to one of the most advanced AF ablation approaches currently available anywhere
You will have a full consultation, ECG review, and pre-procedure assessment. This typically includes a heart scan - such as a CT or MRI - to map the anatomy of your pulmonary veins. Blood thinners are usually continued right up to the day of the procedure. Some rhythm or rate control medications may need to be adjusted - Dr. Kaba's team will provide clear written instructions.
AF ablation is carried out in a specialist cardiac catheter laboratory under general anaesthetic or deep sedation. Most procedures take two to three hours. You will be closely monitored throughout by an experienced specialist team.
Most patients stay in hospital overnight and go home the following day. You may notice some chest discomfort, tiredness, or occasional irregular heartbeats in the first few weeks after ablation - this is normal and usually settles. Most people return to light activities within one week, with a full return to exercise after four to six weeks. Blood thinners are typically continued for a period after the procedure, and Dr. Kaba will give you clear guidance.
For paroxysmal (intermittent) AF, a single ablation procedure achieves freedom from AF in approximately 70 to 80% of patients at one year. For persistent AF, outcomes vary; repeat procedures improve long-term results for many patients. Clinical trials consistently show that ablation significantly improves symptoms, exercise capacity, and quality of life compared with medication alone.
AF ablation may be recommended if you have:
AF ablation is a more complex procedure than atrial flutter ablation, and the risks reflect this. Main risks include:
AF ablation is usually performed under general anaesthetic or deep sedation, so you will be asleep throughout. You will not be aware of the procedure.
Most AF ablation procedures take two to three hours. The total time in hospital, including preparation and recovery, is usually one to two days.
For paroxysmal AF, a single procedure achieves freedom from AF in approximately 70 to 80% of patients at one year. Success rates are somewhat lower for persistent AF. Some patients benefit from a second procedure to achieve the best long-term result
It can. AF ablation significantly reduces AF burden for most patients, but it is not a guaranteed cure - particularly for persistent AF. If AF returns, a repeat procedure or additional treatment may be recommended. Dr. Kaba will monitor you closely after the ablation.
Most patients return to light activity within one week and to full exercise within four to six weeks. Dr. Kaba will give you specific guidance based on how your recovery is going.
Blood thinners are continued for a period after ablation — usually at least three months, and often longer depending on your individual stroke risk. Even if AF does not recur, your stroke risk assessment will guide whether long-term anticoagulation is recommended.
Pulsed field ablation (PFA) uses short bursts of electrical energy to treat the heart muscle. Unlike heat-based ablation (radiofrequency) or freezing (cryoablation), PFA selectively affects heart muscle cells and largely spares surrounding tissues such as the oesophagus and phrenic nerve. Dr. Kaba was the first in the UK to use the Farapulse system with the Opal HDx mapping platform.
Why Dr Kaba
AF ablation is the most technically demanding of all the rhythm procedures Dr. Kaba performs - and one he performs regularly, using the most advanced technologies available in the UK, including pulsed field ablation with the Farapulse system.
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