Ablation
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Updated: July 28, 2010
Ablation is a
therapeutic procedure that alters or destroys tissue in the heart to block or
eliminate cardiac arrhythmias. Ablation is performed either as a surgical
procedure or through application of a minimally invasive catheter. In catheter
ablation, a catheter is inserted through a vein in the groin and placed within
the heart. Radiofrequency or ultrasonic energy released at the tip of the
ablation catheter destroys a small, but critical mass of the heart tissue at the
arrhythmia source.
