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Catheter ablation
Catheter ablation can be used to treat atrial fibrillation, atrial flutter, SVTs, or ventricular tachycardia by interrupting the abnormal electrical circuit in the heart's chambers. This procedure does not require open surgery on the heart. Instead, cardiologists use thin flexible tubes known as catheters to reach the abnormal heart tissue.
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During catheter ablation, the cardiologist threads the catheter through a blood vessel, positioning it next to the extra abnormal pathway in the heart. The abnormal heart tissue is then either removed using a small cutter or destroyed using radio-frequency energy to heat it up. In some cases cyrotherapy may be used to destroy the tissue through freezing. Cryotherapy, although not as effective as radio-frequency, is a safer alternative when the abnormal tissue is located near the normal pathways of the conduction system within the heart.
The procedure is done under sedation and uses local anesthesia. It may take from three to seven hours, but the recovery time is short. Most people are hospitalized one or two days and return to their usual activities within seven days of the procedure. The risks are generally related to inserting the catheters into the veins, and will be discussed with you by the doctor performing the procedure.
When successful, this procedure blocks the transmission of unwanted electrical signals through the tissue of the heart; eliminating the need for daily medication. The success of the treatment at experienced medical centers approaches 95 percent, depending on the location of the abnormal tissue and the type of arrhythmia.
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