Atrioventricular (AV) node ablation with pacemakers

For patients with atrial flutter, radio-frequency catheter ablation can be used to destroy a small area of tissue at the AV node to reduce the number of electrical impulses sent to the ventricles. In 98 percent of the patients, this procedure blocks the heart's electrical impulses, which requires implanting an internal pacemaker to establish a normal heart rhythm. Even though a pacemaker is usually required, research shows that 85 percent of patients report that this procedure improved the quality of their life and increased their ability to exercise.