The procedure is called Radiofrequency ablation, or RFA, it's a medical procedure in which a small portion of heart tissue (muscle) containing an electrical pathway is destroyed using heat. This pathway is responsible for conducting very fast (or irregular) heartbeats that cause unpleasant symptoms such as palpitations, dizziness or fainting
RF ablation is a treatment used for the management of certain cardiac tachyarrhythmias. A specially trained doctor, called an electrophysiologist (a specialist in abnormalities of the heart rhythm), inserts a catheter or special tube into blood vessels, usually in the groin or neck, and threads it under x-ray guidance into the heart. One catheter is then moved to the area of the heart to be ablated. A mild electrical current produced by high-frequency waves (radiofrequency waves) is passed from the tip of the catheter through to the target site. The energy from this catheter causes about a 30 °C increase in temperature. It is usually applied for 30-60 seconds to an area about one quarter the size of a pencil eraser.
This heat is enough to destroy the small but critical amount of heart tissue, and causes little or no discomfort. It often takes more than one application to successfully ablate the pathway. The procedure is done under local anaesthetic with mild intravenous sedation and can take anywhere from two to six hours. These catheters are removed immediately after the procedure. You will not be able to eat or drink for four hours before the procedure. You will be asked to lie flat for 3-4 hours after the procedure to prevent bleeding from the puncture sites. You will be able to return to normal activities within a few days.
It is important to know that this procedure is permanent and non-reversible.
Success rates vary depending on the location of the electrical pathway in your heart; the overall success has been about 90-99%.My doctor says the success rate is 50-60% after the first procedure, in 3 months I will know if it worked. If not another will be scheduled and the success rate after the second one is 90%.
Patients who have been diagnosed with atrial fibrillation or atrial flutter with a rapid ventricular response, AV node tachycardia, true atrial tachycardia, RVOT tachycardia and Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome are all possible candidates for this procedure.
Often, patients have been treated with oral medications for these same conditions.
For some, the medication(s) may not have been effective in controlling the
tachycardia, or they have not been tolerant of the drug(s) and its side-effects.
Radiofrequency ablation can then become an option.
RVOT Tachycardia (What the doctors think I have)
A few people have an arrhythmia that originates from certain regions in the right ventricle; most often the Right Ventricular Outflow Tract (see area surrounding tip of catheter in diagram) and thus called RVOT Tachycardia. The exact site of origin can be found by an ECG and an Electrophysiology Study. RVOT tachycardia is usually brought on by physical or emotional exertion and can often be well controlled with medications.
In instances where the tachycardia remains drug-resistant or drugs are not well tolerated RF ablation may be recommended.
RF ablation for ventricular arrhythmias is not restricted to RVOT tachycardia. Arrhythmias originating from other areas in the ventricles, such as Bundle Branch Reentry Tachycardia and Left Ventricular Septal Tachycardia, can also be effectively ablated. They are going to ablate the muscle where my pulmonary arteries(from my lungs) enter my heart.
