Health Dictionary
Reliable, easy-to-read patient information on common medical conditions — written in plain language, free of jargon, and grounded in current evidence. Browse the most frequent diagnoses, understand what they mean for everyday life, and learn which steps and questions help you have a focused conversation with your doctor.
Cardiac disease in pregnancy cardiac ablation
Introduction
Overview
Overview
Catheter ablation is indicated only in rare cases of intractable arrhythmia causing cardiac decompensation. Ablation is not routinely performed because of the high radiation dose involved with catheterization (1.5 mGy).
Cardiac Ablation
Cardiac Ablation
Minimizing Risk to the Fetus
To minimize radiation to the pelvic and abdominal areas, the following steps may be considered:
- Radial approach rather than the femoral approach is preferred.
- Shield the gravid uterus to minimize radiation exposure
- Short fluoroscopic time minimizes radiation exposure
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]