Abnormalities in different areas of the heart cause different types of irregular heartbeats; the type of arrhythmia must be clearly defined before this procedure can be properly done.
Catheter ablation of an irregular heartbeat involves having a tube (a catheter) inserted into the heart.
This usually causes the irregular heartbeat to be reset into a normal heartbeat.
Once the type of irregular heartbeat is identified and these medicines are given, the catheter is inserted through a blood vessel and into the heart.
Catheter ablation is considered a non-surgical technique
Electrical energy is sent to either reset the heartbeat or stop the heart from beating so a mechanical pacemaker can be put in place.
Either the normal heartbeat resumes after treatment or the ability of the heart to beat on its own is lost, requiring the insertion of a pacemaker to stimulate the heart to beat regularly.
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.
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.