RF Ablation

RF Ablation

Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is a treatment that uses electrical energy to destroy tissues in the heart that are causing rhythm disturbances. It is often performed if you are experiencing abnormal electrical impulses through your heart causing it to beat too fast or too irregularly.

A small incision is made in the groin. A special radiofrequency ablation catheter is inserted into the vein and guided up to the heart using X-ray screening.

With catheters in place, recordings of the heart’s electrical activity can be made from inside the heart and the location that is  responsible for the rhythm disturbance can be identified.

Once the specific point of the abnormal heart beat is identified, a radiofrequency ablation catheter will ablate (or burn) that area. This means a burn silences the abnormal focus and  stops the abnormal heart rhythm from occurring.

A radiofrequency ablation takes about two to four hours depending on the type of arrhythmia.