Details.
A cardiac ablation procedure for the treatment of abnormal heart rhythms, most commonly atrial fibrillation. One or more catheters are passed from the blood vessels in the groin to the heart under local anaesthetic with sedation. X-ray and other imaging guidance is used to locate the electrical activity, after which cryotherapy or radiofrequency energy is delivered to precise points within the heart. For atrial fibrillation, treatment is usually directed towards electrically isolating the pulmonary veins from the rest of the heart. Straightforward cases usually require an overnight hospital stay. The procedure carries a risk of complications and recurrence, and some patients may require a second or third ablation.
