Heart Disease: Treating Arrhythmias with Ablation
Introduction
Ablation is used to treat abnormal heart rhythms. It can be performed both surgically and
non-surgically.
Non-surgical ablation is performed in a special lab called the
electrophysiology (EP) laboratory. During this non-surgical procedure a
catheter is inserted into your heart and then a special machine is used
to direct energy to the heart muscle. This energy either "disconnects"
or "isolates" the pathway of the abnormal rhythm (depending on the type
of ablation). It can also be used to disconnect the electrical pathway
between the upper chambers (atria) and the lower chambers (ventricles)
of the heart.
For those that require heart surgery, ablation can be performed
during coronary artery bypass or valve surgery.
In addition to re-establishing a normal heart rhythm in people with
certain arrhythmias, ablation therapy can help control the heart rate in
people with rapid arrhythmias, and prevent blood clots and strokes. The
maze and surgical pulmonary vein isolation.
There are two types of surgery that can be used to treat the abnormal
heart rhythm, atrial fibrillation. These procedures are often combined
with other surgical therapies such as bypass surgery, valve repair, or
valve replacement. They include:
- The Maze procedure. The
surgeon makes small cuts in the heart to interrupt the conduction of abnormal
impulses and to direct normal sinus impulses to travel to the atrioventricular
node (AV node) as they normally should. When the heart heals, scar tissue
forms and the abnormal electrical impulses are blocked from traveling through
the heart.
- Surgical ablation. The surgeon creates controlled lesions
on the heart and ultimately scar tissue to block the abnormal
electrical impulses from being conducted through the heart and
promote the normal conduction of impulses through the proper
pathway. This procedure involves a single incision into the left
atrium. One of three energy sources may be used to create the scars:
radiofrequency, microwave or cryothermy (cold temperature).
The type of ablation performed depends upon the type of arrhythmia
and the presence of other heart disease.
Next: Why do I need ablation therapy? »
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