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Dr. Dominic in the cath lab UI Health Care
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Cardiac Ablation

We offer cardiac ablation to improve or cure many types of arrhythmia, including Afib, atrial flutter, PVC, supraventricular tachycardia (SVT), and more.
Request an Appointment
For Heart and Vascular related requests:
1-319-356-7102
For all other requests:
1-800-777-8442
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Cardiac ablation is a procedure used to treat an irregular heartbeat, also known as arrhythmia. Your provider may recommend a cardiac ablation if you have an arrhythmia and:

  • You haven’t been able to control your heart rate or rhythm with medicine
  • Your arrhythmia medicine causes serious or unpleasant side effects
  • You have a type of arrhythmia that increases your risk of sudden cardiac arrest
  • You have a type of arrhythmia that can be cured with cardiac ablation

University of Iowa Heart and Vascular Center electrophysiologists offer cardiac ablation for many types of arrhythmias, including common arrhythmias such as atrial fibrillation (Afib) and rare types like Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome.

How cardiac ablation works

With cardiac ablation, we purposely damage (ablate) a small, targeted sections of heart tissue. The resulting scar tissue can no longer transmit the abnormal electrical signals that cause arrhythmia.

To create this scar tissue, we guide flexible, hollow tubes (catheters) through your blood vessels and into your heart. Then we use the catheters to apply extreme heat (radiofrequency ablation) or cold (cryoablation) to the target areas.

Our team performs hundreds of these procedures every year, making us one of the most experienced in the state. So, if you need a cardiac ablation, you can count on us for safe, skillful care.

Pulse field ablation for Afib

University of Iowa Health Care now uses the Farapulse™ Pulse Field Ablation (PFA) System for atrial fibrillation (Afib) ablations. This new technology uses electrical signals that isolate and ablate specific heart cells in a precise pattern, resulting in a quicker and safer procedure. 

This new technology has proven to be effective and minimizes the risks associated with thermal ablations (radiofrequency and cryo), like damaging structures surrounding the heart.

What to expect when you have cardiac ablation

Cardiac ablation is a minimally invasive procedure. Most procedures take several hours to complete.

During your procedure

Your procedure will take place in a special room in the hospital called an electrophysiology lab. It usually includes the following steps:

  • We’ll fit you with a blood pressure cuff and oxygen sensor. We’ll also attach sticky metal discs (electrodes) to your chest. These electrodes are attached by wires to a machine that keeps track of your heart rhythm (electrocardiogram).
  • You’ll receive either light sedation (to keep you awake but comfortable) or general anesthesia (so you’re asleep during the procedure).
  • We’ll insert several catheters into your body, usually in the groin area. We’ll gently guide these catheters through your blood vessels until we reach your heart.
  • Once the catheters are in place, we send electrical impulses into your heart. We watch how your heart responds to these impulses, then we “map” each area responsible for spreading electrical signals incorrectly.
  • Finally, we deliver heat or cold to each mapped area, to create permanent scar tissue.

Your provider will let you know if you can return home the same day or if you’ll need to stay overnight for observation.

After your procedure

Depending on the type of arrhythmia you have, cardiac ablation may be the only treatment you need to restore your heart rhythm for good.

A comprehensive treatment plan combining cardiac ablation with medication, or a pacemaker can greatly improve your symptoms. It can also reduce your risk of serious health problems associated with arrhythmia, including heart failure and stroke.

Who can benefit from cardiac ablation?

Radiofrequency ablation and cryoablation can improve or cure many types of arrhythmias. These include:

  • Atrial fibrillation (Afib)
  • Atrial flutter
  • Atrial tachycardia
  • Atrioventricular nodal reentrant tachycardia (AVNRT)
  • Premature ventricular contractions (PVC)
  • Supraventricular tachycardia (SVT)
  • Ventricular tachycardia
  • Ventricular fibrillation (Vfib)
  • Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome

Your provider will let you know if cardiac ablation is enough to restore your heart rhythm permanently or if you’ll still need other short- or long-term treatments.

Sidebar content
  • Heart and Vascular Services
    • Cardiac Imaging
      • Coronary Calcium Scan (Calcium Score test)
    • Cardiac Rehabilitation
    • Cardiology
      • Angina
      • Aortic Aneurysm
      • Atherosclerosis
      • Coronary artery disease
      • Echocardiogram
      • Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM)
      • Pulmonary Hypertension
    • Cardio-Oncology
    • Cardiovascular Genetics
    • Cardiac Electrophysiology
      • Atrial Fibrillation
      • Atrial Flutter
      • Cardiac Ablation
      • Cardioneuroablation
      • Convergent Procedure
      • Heart Palpitations
      • Lead Extraction
      • Pacemaker
      • Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator (ICD)
      • Remedē® System
    • Heart Failure
      • Cardiac Amyloidosis
      • CardioMEMS™ Heart Failure System
      • Sarcoidosis
    • Heart Surgery
      • Aortic Valve Surgery
      • Heart Transplant
      • ECMO: Heart and Lung Life Support
        • A Family Guide to ECMO
        • Criteria for ECMO
        • ECMO Training Course
        • Immediately Contact the ECMO Team
        • The Iowa Difference for ECLS Care
        • Welcome from the ECMO Director
      • Left ventricular assist device (LVAD)
    • Interventional Cardiology
      • Atherectomy
      • Complex and High Risk Interventional Procedures (CHIP)
      • Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (Angioplasty)
      • Percutaneous Ventricular Assist Device (Impella)
    • Structural heart and heart valve disease
      • Atrial Septal Defect (ASD)
      • Left Atrial Appendage Closure (Watchman Device)
      • Paravalvular Leak (PVL) Closure
      • Patent Foramen Ovale (PFO)
      • Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR)
      • Transcatheter Mitral Valve Repair (MitraClip)
      • Tricuspid Valve Repair and Replacement
    • Vascular Surgery
      • Deep vein thrombosis
      • Peripheral Artery Disease
      • Thoracic Outlet Syndrome (TOS)
      • Varicose Veins and Spider Veins

Our Care Team

Steven Bailin, MD portrait

Steven
Bailin
MD

  • Heart and Vascular
4.67 out of 5 (1,040 ratings)
Sergio Conti, MD, PhD portrait

Sergio
Conti
MD, PhD

  • Heart and Vascular
Paari Dominic, MBBS, MPH portrait

Paari
Dominic
MBBS, MPH

  • Heart and Vascular
4.82 out of 5 (319 ratings)
Peter D. Farjo, MD, MS portrait

Peter D.
Farjo
MD, MS

  • Heart and Vascular
4.72 out of 5 (195 ratings)
David Hamon, MD portrait

David
Hamon
MD

  • Heart and Vascular
4.55 out of 5 (465 ratings)
Denice Hodgson-Zingman, MD portrait

Denice
Hodgson-Zingman
MD

  • Heart and Vascular
4.80 out of 5 (874 ratings)
James R. Hopson, MD portrait

James R.
Hopson
MD

  • Heart and Vascular
4.80 out of 5 (2,171 ratings)
E. Michael Powers, MD, MBA portrait

E. Michael
Powers
MD, MBA

  • Heart and Vascular
4.84 out of 5 (281 ratings)

Do you think you'd benefit from cardiac ablation?

If medication hasn't helped your arrhythmia, you may be a candidate for cardiac ablation. Schedule a consultation with a UI Heart and Vascular Center electrophysiologist to see if this procedure is right for you.
Call 1-319-356-7102 Request an appointment Refer a patient

Locations and Offices

Heart and Vascular Center
4800 John Pappajohn Pavilion (JPP)
Level 4, Elevator I
1-319-356-7102
Clinic
UI Heart and Vascular Center Interior location image at UI Hospitals & Clinics
In Medical Center University
200 Hawkins Drive, Iowa City, IA 52242
Iowa River Landing - Floor 3
Third Floor
1-319-467-2000
Clinic
Lobby photo of the third floor of Iowa River Landing
In Iowa River Landing
105 East 9th Street, Coralville, IA 52241
Clinton - North 4th Street
1-800-777-8442
Clinic
Clinton North 4th street location
In Clinton, North 4th Street
1410 North 4th Street, Clinton, IA 52732
Dubuque–Langworthy Street
1-800-777-8442
Clinic
Dubuque Langworthy location image
In Dubuque, Langworthy Street
1000 Langworthy Street, Dubuque, IA 52001
Fairfield — South Main Street
1-800-777-8442
Clinic
Fairfield exterior image location
In Fairfield, South Main Street
2000 South Main Street, Fairfield, IA 52556
Washington–414 East Polk Street
1-800-777-8442
Clinic
Exterior image of Washington location on polk street
In Washington, 414 East Polk Street
414 East Polk Street, Washington County Hospital, Washington, IA 52353
West Burlington–West Agency Road
1-877-891-5350
Exterior image of West Burlington location
In West Burlington, West Agency Road
1401 West Agency Road, West Burlington, IA 52655

Patient Stories

How VT ablation saved one man’s life—and what it could mean for yours
May 7, 2025
Hear from a patient and learn from a UI Health Care expert what to expect, what questions to ask, and how to know if a ventricular tachycardia ablatio...
Dr. Dominic, Electrophysiology

Related News


Browse More
New wave of arrhythmia treatments
April 18, 2024
Advanced electrophysiology procedures and techniques at Iowa offer new options for patients with heart rhythm disorders.
UI Heart and Vascular Center electrophysiologists (from left) James Hopson, MD, Paari Dominic, MBBS, MPH, and David Hamon, MD, review a case in the cardiac catheterization lab.
New technology developed at Iowa provides safer treatment for people with Afib
February 21, 2024
Technology comes full circle from research to use in patient care at UI Health Care.
Steven Mickelsen, MD
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