Radiofrequency Ablation

What is Radiofrequency Ablation?

Depending on the findings at the electrophysiological study (EPS), it may be possible to ablate the mechanism of the arrhythmia. Radiofrequency ablation is a procedure to treat some types of rapid heartbeats.

This is usually done at the same time as the EPS as the necessary catheters within the heart are already in place. Ablation is usually performed using radiofrequency energy, by introducing an additional catheter capable of delivery this energy. Radiofrequency is a low power, high frequency energy that causes a tiny region of the heart near the tip of the catheter to increase in temperature, thus ablating a small area of tissue. Radiofrequency has been used for decades by surgeons to cut tissue or to stop bleeding. For the treatment of arrhythmia, a much lower power of radiofrequency is used.

How do I prepare for Radiofrequency Ablation?

Please refer to the section on EPS on how you would prepare for the procedure.

Why is Radiofrequency Ablation performed?

The potential benefits and risks of an ablation procedure depend on the nature and complexity of your arrhythmia.

You will find more information on treatment options and ablation procedures for specific types of arrhythmia in the next sections.