Ablation is a term used to describe a treatment for heart rhythm disorders which involves cauterising some of the heart muscle. This will reduce or abolish abnormal electrical activity from the heart and prevent abnormal heart rhythms.
How is Ablation performed?
Most ablation procedures are performed via the femoral vein which is accessed from the top of the right leg. The doctor will use an X-ray camera to position electrodes in the heart and these will be connected externally to a computer system which enables analysis of the electrical activity from the heart. Usually this type of procedure is done with a sedative rather than a general anaesthetic. It can take between 45 minutes and 3 hours to perform an ablation procedure and typically patients can go home the same day.
