Catheter ablation is considered a non-surgical technique
Catheter ablation of an irregular heartbeat involves having a tube (a catheter) inserted into the heart.
The technique of catheter ablation (meaning tube-guided removal) is used to interrupt the abnormal contractions in the heart, allowing normal heart beating to resume.
Atrial fibrillation and flutter and Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome are two of the most common disorders treated with catheter ablation.
Catheter ablation involves delivering highly focused heat (or radio frequency energy) to specific areas of the heart.
One can find a description of the catheter ablation technique from a number of sources. One such source includes Wikipedia which describes catheter ablation as a procedure to terminate or remove a faulty electrical pathway in a section of a heart. It is intended for those who tend to be prone to developing cardiac arrhythmias.
The official definition for the word ablation is "the surgical removal of body tissue."
At the same time as the catheter is inserted, a second electrode is placed on the patient's skin.
The procedure can last up to and over 4 hours. The skin will be cleaned, a small cut will be made and a catheter will be inserted. A problem area will be located and the catheter used to send electrical energy to the area, destroying the problem.
Just had catheter ablation for WPW .how long should I be out of action, feel well enough now, 2 days after ablation .BUT was told my ECG was showing abnormal reading .I am waiting to speak to the cardiologist.is it normal to have this sort of reading after the ablation .Regards ,Tina
When the catheter is energized, the body conducts the energy from the catheter's tip, through the heart and to the electrode on the skin's surface, completing the circuit.
Although very little electricity is given off by the catheter, the instrument does generate a large amount of heat.
Management options for paroxysmal atrial fibrillation includes cardioversion with drugs, electrical cardioversion, medications for maintaining a normal heart rhythm and heart rate control, atrioventricular node ablation, radiofrequency catheter ablation, surgical maze procedure, and medications for preventing blood clots.