Ablation therapy

Overview

Ablation therapy is a type of minimally invasive procedure used to remove abnormal tissue that occurs with some heart conditions, blood vessel (vascular) conditions, reproductive conditions and cancer. Read more about types of ablation therapy.

In ablation therapy, doctors may perform procedures using probes inserted through the skin, flexible tubes (catheters) inserted through an artery or energy beams to reach the area being treated. Doctors usually use imaging techniques to guide ablation. Doctors then injure or destroy (ablate) abnormal tissue using heat (radiofrequency ablation), extreme cold (cryoablation), lasers or a chemical.

Ablation therapy may spare healthy tissue and lower the risks and discomforts of open surgery. You may have a shorter hospital stay and a faster recovery after ablation therapy compared to open surgery. Your doctor will discuss the benefits and risks of ablation therapy and determine whether ablation is an appropriate treatment option for you.

Why choose Mayo for ablation therapy

• Experience. Mayo Clinic doctors have experience conducting many types of ablation therapy.
• Team approach. Mayo Clinic doctors trained in many areas conduct ablation therapy. Doctors work together with staff in many areas to offer coordinated care.
• Technology. Mayo Clinic doctors use advanced technology during ablation therapy.
• Research. Mayo Clinic doctors study new techniques and uses for ablation therapy and conduct clinical trials.

Mayo Clinic: Answers you can trust

At Mayo Clinic, we assemble a team of specialists who take the time to listen and thoroughly understand your health issues and concerns. We tailor the care you receive to your personal health care needs. You can trust our specialists to collaborate and offer you the best possible outcomes, safety and service.

Mayo Clinic is a not-for-profit medical institution that reinvests all earnings into improving medical practice, research and education. We're constantly involved in innovation and medical research, finding solutions to improve your care and quality of life. Your doctor or someone on your medical team is likely involved in research related to your condition.

Our patients tell us that the quality of their interactions, our attention to detail and the efficiency of their visits mean health care — and trusted answers — like they've never experienced.

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