Heart Rhythm By Hiren Kevadiya

Catheter Ablation

Catheter Ablation (RF ablation)

RF ablation is usually performed at the time of EP study. In catheter ablation, a form of RF energy is used to burn short-circuit in heart chambers. Burning of short-circuit puts an end to arrhythmias that originated at the problematic site.

Sometimes, the electric current of the heart travels the same pathways repeatedly creating electrical “short circuit” that disturbs normal heart rhythm. The most effective treatment is to destroy the heart tissue housing the short circuit. This procedure is called catheter ablation (RF ablation).

Catheter ablation procedure

Catheter ablation is a key hole procedure and performed in a same way as mentioned in EP study. An catheter ablation is a technique where flexible wires (catheter electrodes) are passed through a vein in your groin and carefully placed at specific positions within your heart to record the electrical signals.

Once the catheter reaches the heart, electrodes at the tip of the catheter gather data and a variety of electrical measurements are made. The data pinpoints the location causing the arrhythmia. Once the location of arrhythmia short-circuit is confirmed, energy is used to destroy that tissue, ending the disturbance of electric current flow through the heart and restoring a healthy heart rhythm.

Who needs catheter ablation
(RF ablation)?

Many people have abnormal heart rhythms (arrhythmias) that cannot be controlled with medications. Long term medications may sometimes cause side effects. Patient’s compliance for taking medications regularly may be the issue. Some patients can not or do not wish to take life-long antiarrhythmic medications because of side effects that interfere with their quality of life. Catheter ablation is the best treatment modality in all such situations. For many types of arrhythmias, catheter ablation is successful in 90-98% of cases – thus eliminating the need for long-term medications. In addition, patients who had undergone catheter ablation have reported improvements in their ability to work, exercise and take on physical activities.

Catheter ablation is used to treat rapid heartbeats that begin in the upper chambers (atria) of the heart. It is also known as supraventricular tachycardias (SVTs).

1. Atrial Fibrillation
2. Atrial Flutter
3. Atrial tachycardia
4. AV Nodal Re-entrant Tachycardia (AVNRT)
5. AV Re-entrant Tachycardia (AVRT)
6. Wolf Parkinson White (WPW) Syndrome

Catheter ablation is also used to treat rapid heartbeats that begin in the lower chambers (ventricle) of the heart. It is also known as ventricular tachycardias (VT).

1. Ventricular premature beats (VPCs)
2. Idiopathic Ventricular Tachycardia (Idiopathic VT), Scar VT
3. Ventricular Fibrillation (VF)
4. Brugada Syndrome

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