Catheter Abalation: Definition
Catheter ablation is an invasive procedure used to correct a faulty electrical pathway from the hearts of those who are prone to developing cardiac arrhythmias such as supraventricular tachycardias (SVT), Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome or types of atrial fibrillation.
Catheter Abalation: Procedure
It involves advancing a flexible catheter into the patient's blood vessels, usually either in the femoral vein or subclavian vein. The catheter is then advanced towards the heart and high-frequency electrical impulses are used to induce the arrhythmia, and then ablate (surgically remove) the accessory pathway that is causing it.
Catheter ablation is usually performed by an electrophysiologist (a specially trained cardiologist) in a cath lab.
Amongst others, Tony Blair (current prime-minister of Britain) has undergone a successful catheter ablation.