Ablation therapy is a minimally invasive technique used for cancer treatment. It eliminates abnormal tissues, as well as tumors, present throughout the body. The procedure is conducted by trained professionals, and it uses extreme heat or cold to destroy cancerous tumors. It can also be used for other conditions, such as Barrett’s esophagus, atrial fibrillation, and dysplasia. Read on to learn about the types of ablation therapy and its associated risks.

Ablation therapy and its types
Ablation therapy is a process that is primarily utilized to cure atrial fibrillation. The procedure involves using multiple techniques like extreme cold, heat, lasers, and more to treat the condition. Several factors encourage patients to undergo ablation therapy, including less recovery time, minimal bleeding, and lower risk. Furthermore, the treatment also leads to fewer hospitalizations as the procedure doesn’t involve open surgery. Additionally, it also supports chemotherapy so that patients can have a better recovery. Based on the condition, different types of ablation therapy are adopted. Some of the popular ones include:

Cryoablation
Patients who have cancer of the kidneys or prostate gland are treated with cryoablation. The procedure involves inserting a specialized needle called a cryoprobe along the skin where cancer has been detected. Furthermore, a form of gas is passed through the cryoprobe so that the tissue at the end will freeze. The tissue is then made to thaw, and the process is continued several times until desirable results are achieved. The method is also used in patients suffering from bone, eye, breast, lungs, or cervix cancer. It can provide comfort from pain as well as other symptoms that occur as a result of cancer. Moreover, this form of ablation therapy also proves helpful in eliminating large tumors in patients who cannot opt for surgery.
Atrial fibrillation ablation
This type of ablation therapy is adopted when there is an irregular and disorderly heartbeat, also known as A-fib or atrial fibrillation. The procedure involves employing cold or hot energy to produce mini scars in the heart to restrict damaged electrical signals and renew the usual heartbeat. In this therapy, thin and flexible tubes known as catheters are inserted through the vein in the groin to the arteries present in the heart to make small burns or freezes. The procedure is adopted when other alternative treatment options do not demonstrate any kind of improvement in the patient’s condition.
Cardiac ablation
This form of ablation therapy is directed toward restoring the heart’s normal rhythm. The procedure consists of making tiny wounds in the heart to restrict unnatural electrical signals and retrieve the usual heartbeat.

Risks of ablation therapy
Ablation therapy is mostly considered a safe option as it does not cause many side effects. However, it may lead to some issues, depending on the kind of procedure the patient is subjected to and the severity of the symptoms. Some of the common risks associated with the therapy include:

Infection and bleeding at the location of the catheter
Clots in the legs or lungs
Sudden heart attack
Damage to blood vessels or heart valves
Lower heart rate, which can be normalized with the help of a pacemaker
Sudden occurrence of arrhythmia