An irregular heartbeat has a way of making itself the center of your life: the fatigue, the racing pulse, the constant uncertainty about what your heart will do next. If medications haven’t brought lasting relief, cardiac ablation may offer something they can’t: a treatment aimed at the source of the problem, not just the symptoms.
Dr. Menachem Wakslak is a board-certified cardiac electrophysiologist who has served patients throughout the San Fernando Valley since 2012. At Valley Heart & Rhythm, he brings fellowship-trained expertise and a commitment to treating every person as an individual, never as a diagnosis code.
What Is Cardiac Ablation?
Cardiac ablation is a minimally invasive procedure that corrects abnormal heart rhythms by treating the specific tissue responsible for faulty electrical signals. A thin, flexible catheter is guided to the heart through a blood vessel, and the problem area is carefully treated to restore a normal rhythm.
Types of Cardiac Ablation
Dr. Wakslak performs several types of cardiac ablation, selecting the approach that best fits each patient’s condition, anatomy, and goals.
Radiofrequency Ablation
Radiofrequency ablation uses controlled heat energy delivered through a catheter to eliminate the tissue causing faulty electrical signals. It is the most established ablation technique and has a long track record of safety and effectiveness across a wide range of arrhythmias, including AFib, flutter, and SVT.
Pulsed Field Ablation
Pulsed field ablation is a newer, highly precise technique that uses targeted electrical pulses to treat the tissue responsible for the arrhythmia. Because it acts selectively on cardiac muscle cells, it reduces the risk of affecting surrounding structures. It is becoming a preferred option for AFib ablation due to its precision and favorable safety profile.
Fluoroless Catheter Ablation
Fluoroless catheter ablation uses advanced 3D mapping technology to guide the catheter without relying on traditional X-ray imaging. This approach significantly reduces radiation exposure during the procedure without compromising precision or outcomes, making it a meaningful option for patients and care teams alike.
Conditions Treated with Cardiac Ablation
Cardiac ablation addresses a range of heart rhythm disorders, including:
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Other symptomatic arrhythmias
If you’ve been experiencing palpitations, a racing or skipping heartbeat, dizziness, or episodes of fainting, ablation may be a meaningful option to consider.
Benefits of Cardiac Ablation
For many patients, ablation achieves results that long-term medication use simply cannot. Potential benefits include:
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Significant reduction or elimination of arrhythmia episodes
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Reduced dependence on antiarrhythmic medications
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Improved energy levels and daily functioning
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Lower long-term risk of AFib-related complications, including stroke
Who Is a Good Candidate?
Not every arrhythmia requires ablation, and at Valley Heart & Rhythm, we take that distinction seriously. Dr. Wakslak reviews your complete health history before making any recommendation. You may be a candidate if you:
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Have tried medications without adequate or lasting symptom control
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Experience frequent or disruptive arrhythmia episodes
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Have been diagnosed with AFib, atrial flutter, SVT, or a related condition
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Want a more definitive, long-term solution
What to Expect During the Procedure
Ablation is performed in a specialized electrophysiology lab using advanced 3D mapping technology to precisely locate the source of the abnormal electrical signal. Once identified, that tissue is treated to interrupt the faulty pathway. The procedure is performed under sedation or anesthesia, and most patients are entirely unaware of it while it is taking place.
Recovery and Results
Most patients go home the same day or after a brief overnight stay. Many return to normal activities within a few days to a week. Some notice improvement right away; for others, the full benefit develops over several weeks as the heart heals. Dr. Wakslak and his team closely follow your progress and remain available throughout your recovery.
Why Choose Valley Heart & Rhythm for Cardiac Ablation in Tarzana, CA?
Cardiac ablation is a subspecialty procedure, and the physician performing it matters. Dr. Wakslak completed his cardiac electrophysiology fellowship at the University of Rochester Medical Center and has practiced in the San Fernando Valley for over a decade. He performs the full scope of ablation procedures, including AFib, SVT, and flutter ablation, using the latest techniques.
Valley Heart & Rhythm was intentionally built small so that every patient is known by name and every clinical decision comes from a single physician who knows your whole story. No rotating providers, no handoffs to someone new, and no layers between you and the doctor managing your care. When you reach out, you reach the team that already knows you.
Restore Your Rhythm; Reclaim Your Life
Living with an arrhythmia doesn’t have to be your normal. Cardiac ablation at Valley Heart & Rhythm means advanced, physician-led care in a practice where you are treated as a person, from the first conversation through every follow-up.
Valley Heart & Rhythm is located in Tarzana, CA. Call (818) 724-8000 to schedule a consultation with Dr. Wakslak and his team.
