Ablate means "to destroy." Cardiac ablation is a procedure that is used to destroy areas in your heart that may be causing your heart rhythm problems. During the procedure, small wires called electrodes are placed inside your heart to measure your heart’s electrical activity. These electrodes are also be used to destroy the bad areas of your heart.

Catheter ablation; Radiofrequency catheter ablation

Cardiac ablation procedures are done in a hospital laboratory by a specially trained staff. This includes cardiologists (heart doctors) trained in electrophysiology, technicians, and nurses. The setting is safe and controlled to make the risk for you as low as possible.

You will be given a mild sedative before the procedure to help you relax. Then, the skin on your neck, arm, or groin will be cleaned well and made numb with an anesthetic. Next, a surgeon will make a small cut into one of the blood vessels in this area. Then, a catheter (a small, flexible tube) will be inserted through this cut. The doctor uses live x-ray images to carefully guide the catheter up into your heart.

Once the catheter is in place, your doctor runs several flexible tubes that contain electrodes through it. These are placed in different small blood vessels in your heart. They are connected to monitors that tell what area in your heart muscle is causing problems with your heart rhythm.

One of the catheter lines sends electrical energy to the problem area to create a scar. The scarring causes the heart rhythm problem to stop.

Catheter ablation is a long procedure that can last 4 or more hours During the procedure your heart will be monitored closely. A nurse or doctor may ask you if you are having symptoms at different times during the procedure. Symptoms you may feel are:

• A brief burning when any medicines are injected
• A faster or stronger heartbeat
• Lightheadedness
• A burning when the electrical energy is used

Cardiac ablation is used to treat certain heart rhythm problems that medicines are not controlling. These problems may be dangerous for you if they are not treated. Some problems are:

• AV Nodal Reentrant Tachycardia (AVNRT)
• Accessory Pathway
• Atrial fibrillation and atrial flutter
• Ventricular tachycardia

Calkins H, Brugada J, Packer DL, Cappato R, Chen SA, Crijns HJ, et al. (HRS/EHRA/ECAS expert consensus statement on catheter and surgical ablation of atrial fibrillation: recommendations for personnel, policy, procedures and follow-up. A report of the Heart Rhythm Society (HRS) Task Force on catheter and surgical ablation of atrial fibrillation. Heart Rhythm. 2007:4(6): 816-61.

Miller JM, Zipes DP. Therapy for cardiac arrhythmias. In: Libby P, Bonow RO, Mann DL, Zipes DP, eds. Braunwald's Heart Disease: A Textbook of Cardiovascular Medicine. 8th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2007:chap 33.