Cardiac Electrophysiology Ablation

Cardiac electrophysiology (EP) ablation is a catheter-based procedure that identifies and eliminates the abnormal electrical pathways or focal triggers responsible for cardiac arrhythmias, restoring normal heart rhythm without the need for cardiac surgery. At SilverOak Health, our electrophysiologists perform ablation for a wide range of arrhythmias including atrial fibrillation (AF), atrial flutter, supraventricular tachycardias, accessory pathways, and ventricular tachycardia, using state-of-the-art three-dimensional electroanatomical mapping systems.

Pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) for atrial fibrillation — the most commonly performed ablation procedure worldwide — involves electrically isolating the pulmonary veins, the most common source of AF-triggering ectopic activity, from the left atrium. This is achieved using either radiofrequency energy (delivered via a force-sensing catheter with contact pressure monitoring) or cryoablation (using a balloon catheter that freezes tissue at each pulmonary vein). For persistent or long-standing persistent AF, additional ablation substrate modification beyond PVI may be performed based on high-density voltage and activation mapping.

Cryoablation balloon and pulsed field ablation (PFA) — a newer technology using electrical pulses rather than thermal energy — offer faster procedure times and potentially improved safety profiles compared to point-by-point radiofrequency ablation for PVI. Our EP laboratory is equipped with the latest mapping and ablation systems, and our electrophysiologists participate in ongoing training and technique refinement at international EP centres. Post-ablation monitoring using wearable ECG patches at one and three months provides objective assessment of rhythm outcomes and guides decisions regarding anticoagulation continuation and antiarrhythmic drug weaning.