London Bridge Hospital
27 Tooley Street SE1 2PR London
Private Cardiac Catheter Ablation
- No.1 in the UK for private cardiac care
- Appointments in as little as 24 hours
- 99% of our cardiac patients would recommend us to friends and family
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Private cardiac catheter ablation at HCA UK
Why choose us?
If you’re worried about your heart health, rest assured you’ll be in safe hands at HCA UK. We’re ranked No.1 in the UK for private cardiac care, which means our specialist teams help more than 36,000 heart patients each year, carrying out over 1,000 cardiac catheter ablations in the process.
This experience, along with fully personalised care from some of the UK’s leading consultants, is why 99% of our patients say they’d recommend us to friends and family.
If you feel your heart beating abnormally, you may be suffering from an arrhythmia. If this is interfering with your quality of life, you may be referred to a specialist for treatment.
A cardiac catheter ablation treats all types of fast or irregular heart arrhythmias. You'll likely benefit from this treatment if you've recently been diagnosed with one of the following conditions:
- Atrial fibrillation (Afib) and atrial flutter: Both conditions cause the atria (upper heart chambers) to beat irregularly. A specific atrial fibrillation or flutter ablation can significantly improve your symptoms.
- Supraventricular tachycardia (SVT): This causes you to have episodes of fast, irregular heartbeats. Frequent and prolonged episodes of SVT can lead to long-term cardiac damage.
- Ventricular tachycardia (VT): Your ventricles (lower heart chambers) can start to beat independently at a rapid rate, causing a potentially dangerous arrhythmia that can result in cardiac arrest.
- Atrial tachycardia: This is a form of SVT that arises from a small area of tissue in your atria. It can be intermittent or persistent.
- Ectopic beats: These are premature or extra heartbeats that can cause uncomfortable heart palpitations.
This minimally invasive procedure can stop the electrical impulses that cause irregular heart rhythms. It uses either heat or cold, depending on your condition, to scar the heart tissue where the arrhythmia is occurring.
This scarring helps to block any abnormal electrical impulses and prevent unusual rhythms. There should be no enduring pain or problems with the heart's function.
You'll be either sedated or placed under general anaesthetic before the surgery. This means that, while you may experience slight discomfort, ablations typically involve little-to-no pain. The catheter insertion site may be sore and bruised, following the procedure, but the small puncture wound should heal quickly.
Yes, there are several types of catheter ablation, each designed to treat different heart arrhythmia conditions. Your consultant will use imaging technology to accurately locate the affected area in your heart and recommend the procedure best suited to your condition.
- Radiofrequency catheter ablation: A small sheath (a simple tube) is inserted into one of your veins or arteries, usually in your groin, to create an opening. Electrode catheters – thin, wired tubes – are inserted through the sheath and guided up to the heart using X-rays taken beforehand.
Radiofrequency will deliver hot energy through the catheter and into the areas of your heart that are causing irregular rhythms, destroying the abnormal heart tissue and blocking these rhythms.
- Cryoablation: Any diseased tissue or abnormal cells are frozen and destroyed by an intensely cold gas applied using a needle-like applicator, called a cryoprobe. The entire procedure usually takes a few hours and you'll likely be able to go home on the same day.
- Pulsed Field Ablation (PFA): While traditional heart ablation methods rely on thermal technologies, pulsed ablation doesn't require heat energy, which can damage and destroy surrounding healthy tissue. Instead, high-voltage electrical fields are used to more precisely target and destroy any affected heart cells causing the arrhythmia while preserving healthy tissue.
Put simply, cardiac catheter ablation can save lives. If you have an arrhythmia that can't be controlled with medication, the procedure can help to restore normal heart function and get you back to doing the things you love with confidence.
Because it’s a minimally invasive procedure, it also doesn't usually require a prolonged hospital stay. You may be allowed home on the same day.
The risks of heart ablation surgery are thankfully low, and complications are rare. At HCA UK, our success rates are very high indeed – 99% across all cardiac surgery, however, all major procedures carry some risk. For catheter ablation surgery, these include:
- Damage to the heart tissue and valves
- Damage to the vein caused by the sheath or catheter
- Damage to the phrenic nerve, which controls your diaphragm
- Stroke or heart attack
- The need for a permanent pacemaker
100+
electrophysiologists specialising in arrhythmia treatment
1,000+
catheter ablations carried out every year
99%
success rate across all cardiac surgery
Next-day appointments
See a specialist and get on the path to an expert diagnosis within 24 hours
State-of-the-art diagnostics
With results in as little as 48 hours
Wide-reaching expertise across the UK
Visit any one of 15 dedicated diagnostic centres in London, Manchester and Birmingham
The cardiac catheter ablation process
What to expect
From the moment you step through the door, until you’re ready to leave, we want you to feel as comfortable and reassured as possible.
One of the ways we can put you at ease is to let you know what to expect at each stage.
If you have any questions that aren’t answered here, or in the FAQ section below, please don’t hesitate to get in touch. Our team will be happy to help in any way they can.
01
Initial consultation
Whether you’ve self-referred to us or have a referral from your GP, the first step is always an initial consultation with one of our specialists. Where possible, we’ll offer you an appointment within 24 hours.
At this appointment your cardiologist will ask you about the symptoms you’re experiencing, give you a thorough physical examination, look at your medical history and arrange whichever investigative diagnostic tests they think you need.
02
Tests and diagnosis
With HCA UK, you’ll have fast access to the UK's most comprehensive cardiac diagnostics network, offering tests on the day of your appointment and results within two working days.
There are several tests that can either rule out or confirm a heart arrhythmia diagnosis, as well as determining which kind you may have. These include an echocardiogram, electrocardiogram (ECG), implantable loop recorder and a cardiac stress test. They’ll then discuss your results with you alongside recommending next best steps.
03
Treatment
Your consultant will use the results of these tests to evaluate your condition and discuss treatment with you, making sure you have a treatment plan you feel completely comfortable with.
We’ll make sure you have everything you need before your surgery, and you’ll be able to ask questions at every stage of the process. You’ll have the support of your entire medical team throughout what can be an anxious time. We’ll make sure you’re informed and feel as comfortable as possible about your surgery.
04
Aftercare and monitoring
Following your surgery, we’ll monitor your recovery to make sure you're fit to go home. We’ll also give you all the information you need to look after yourself once you’re home and help ensure a smooth recovery.
You may feel ready to get back to your usual routine, including work, about a week after your procedure. Unless your job involves heavy lifting or other elements of physical labour, you should be fine.
It’s best to avoid strenuous exercise for at least a week. Your consultant will advise when it's safe to return to physical activity.
Where can I have my cardiac catheter ablation?
Across our extensive network of hospitals and treatment centres, we have more than 100 electrophysiology specialists who can help you, from initial consultation through to surgery and recovery. You’ll be able to have your procedure at the following locations:
The Harley Street Clinic
35 Weymouth Street W1G 8BJ London
The Shard Outpatients
The Shard 32 St Thomas Street SE1 9BS London
Accessing private health care
Self-pay
You don’t need health insurance to be seen quickly. If you’re looking for a diagnosis or treatment and don’t want to wait, all our private healthcare services – from private GP appointments through to surgery and aftercare – can be paid for as and when you need them.
And to give you peace of mind from the start, we’ll offer you a clear and transparent quote outlining exactly what’s included in your self-pay package.
Cardiac catheter ablation FAQs
Your consultant will thoroughly evaluate your heart and overall health to ensure that the correct procedure is being used to treat you. They’ll also give you specific instructions before the surgery to help you prepare. These may include:
- Stopping or continuing any blood-thinning medications
- Avoiding eating or drinking several hours beforehand
- Wearing comfortable clothing and leaving any jewellery and other valuables at home
- Arranging for someone to take you home after the surgery
Your condition will be monitored following the surgery to ensure that you're fit to go home. You'll receive detailed at-home care instructions and should feel ready to resume your routine in five to seven days after the procedure. However strenuous exercise should be avoided for at least a week.
You can find out more about how to access private healthcare here.
The total cost of your cardiac catheter ablation surgery depends on your treatment plan. We offer fully personalised treatment, so costs can vary from patient to patient. You can choose to self-pay for treatment or go through your private medical insurance, which can also affect the treatment cost.
When using a private insurer, you should inform them that you'd like your treatment to be carried out by HCA UK and mention your preferred HCA consultant, too, if you have one.
If you’d like more information about paying for your treatment with HCA UK, you can find it here.
Our patients' cardiac stories
Kirti's heart rhythm story
How a life-changing cardiac procedure stopped Kirti worrying about her heart health. Kirti first felt a heart palpitation back in 2016 whilst out shopping. After delaying seeking specialist advice, she sought the expertise of Dr Mike Koa-Wing, Consultant Cardiologist at The Wellington Hospital, in 2020 after the palpations got worse. Here Kirti shares her story.
Treating Helaina's heart rhythm disorder
Helaina from Northamptonshire was just 16 when she began experiencing unusual symptoms, including shortness of breath and heart palpitations, which rapidly worsened. She was otherwise fit, healthy and a huge lover of the great outdoors, leading to her family to grow concerned.
How a valve replacement helped Steve breathe easy again
When Steve found out his breathlessness was caused by a narrowed aortic valve, he was terrified of the thought of the open-heart surgery that might be needed to treat it. But with the expertise of Professor Sagar Doshi at The Harborne Hospital, he learned he could have a ‘keyhole’ alternative called TAVI.
“The staff were incredible. They are the best. Every step was explained…”
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This content is intended for general information only and does not replace the need for personal advice from a qualified health professional.