M. Wood et al., RADIOFREQUENCY CATHETER ABLATION FOR THE MANAGEMENT OF CARDIAC TACHYARRHYTHMIAS, The American journal of the medical sciences, 306(4), 1993, pp. 241-247
Radiofrequency catheter ablation techniques allow for safe and highly
effective curative therapy of a variety of cardiac dysrhythmias. The t
echnique involves the delivery of a high-frequency, alternating electr
ical current through an intravascular catheter to sites of arrhythmoge
nic myocardium. This current induces resistive electrical heating of t
he tissue, resulting in discrete areas of myocardial destruction throu
gh coagulation and desiccation. Dysrhythmias most commonly treated wit
h these techniques are atrioventricular nodal reentry and tachycardias
related to accessory atrioventricular bypass tracts. For these dysrhy
thmias, success rates of 90% to 95% are achievable with a low (2% to 4
%) risk of complications. Radiofrequency catheter ablation techniques
also have been used to treat ventricular tachycardias atrial flutter,
ectopic atrial tachycardia, and sinus node reentry, albeit with lower
success rates. These techniques are still evolving, alternate energy s
ources (such as microwave and laser) and improved catheter technology
should enhance the technique's safety and efficacy for a wider range o
f dysrhythmias.