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Heart Health Home > Treatments > Medical Devices > Cardiac Ablation Catheter

Cardiac Ablation Catheter:
On this page: What is a cardiac ablation catheter - When is it used - How does it work - What will it accomplish - What are the risks - When should it not be used - Recently approved cardiac ablation devices (including catheters) - Search all cardiac ablation devices (including catheters) - Links
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What is it?
Cardiac Ablation Catheter Illustration
• View pictures of cardiac ablation catheter
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• Read text description of
cardiac ablation catheter pictures

A cardiac ablation catheter is a long, thin tube that is threaded into or onto the heart to destroy (ablate) an area of heart tissue that is causing abnormal heart rhythms.

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When is
it used? 		Cardiac ablation catheters are used to treat abnormally rapid heartbeats that cannot be controlled with medication, or in patients that cannot tolerate these medications.

They are used most often to treat abnormal rhythms that begin in the upper heart chambers (atria). Some examples are:

  • Supraventricular tachycardia (SVT)
  • Atrial Tachycardia
  • Atrial Flutter

Less often, ablation can be used to treat heart rhythm disorders of the lower heart chambers (ventricles).

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How does
it work?

The cardiac ablation catheter is inserted into a blood vessel (artery or vein), usually through a site in the upper leg or neck. The tube is advanced through the blood vessels until it reaches the heart. The catheter is navigated by images created by fluoroscopy – a type of x-ray machine.

In the heart, electrodes at the catheter tip gather data that pinpoint the location of faulty tissue in the heart (electrical mapping). Once the site is identified, the device delivers either radiofrequency energy (RF ablation) or intense cold (cryoablation) to destroy the small section of tissue.
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What will it accomplish? Cardiac catheter ablation is a relatively non-invasive procedure that can restore a normal heart rhythm. It can eliminate the need for open-heart surgery or long-term drug therapies.
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What are
the risks?

During catheter insertion, the heart or a blood vessel may be perforated or damaged. Other potential complications include interruption of normal impulse conduction, stroke, heart attack, and death.

Your doctor will tell you more about the risks associated with cardiac ablation.
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When should
it not be used?

Catheter ablation should not be used in patients who have a blood infection or in patients who can not tolerate certain catheter placement approaches.

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Recently approved cardiac ablation devices:

Find information about specific cardiac ablation devices (including catheters) from FDA's Recently Approved Devices listings.
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Search all cardiac ablation devices:
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Links:
  • Cardiac Ablation
    Heart Rhythm Society
    http://www.hrspatients.org/patients/treatments/cardiac_ablation.asp
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Updated October 26, 2004

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