Catheter ablation

From WikiMD.org
Jump to navigation Jump to search

Catheter Ablation

Catheter ablation (pronounced: kath-uh-ter ab-lay-shun) is a medical procedure used to treat some types of arrhythmias.

Etymology

The term "catheter" comes from the Greek word "katheter" which means "to send down", while "ablation" is derived from the Latin word "ablatio" meaning "to carry away".

Procedure

In a catheter ablation, a long, thin tube called a catheter is inserted into a blood vessel and guided to the heart. The catheter is then used to deliver energy (such as radiofrequency, cryoenergy, or laser) to specific areas of the heart tissue, causing small scars that can prevent the abnormal electrical signals causing the arrhythmia from spreading.

Uses

Catheter ablation is often used when medications or other interventions are not effective in controlling an arrhythmia. It is commonly used to treat conditions such as atrial fibrillation, atrial flutter, ventricular tachycardia, and some types of supraventricular tachycardia.

Risks

Like any medical procedure, catheter ablation carries some risks. These can include bleeding or infection at the site where the catheter was inserted, damage to the heart or blood vessels, and the possibility of the arrhythmia returning.

Related Terms

External links

Esculaap.svg

This WikiMD dictionary article is a stub. You can help make it a full article.


Languages: - East Asian 中文, 日本, 한국어, South Asian हिन्दी, Urdu, বাংলা, తెలుగు, தமிழ், ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian Indonesian, Vietnamese, Thai, မြန်မာဘာသာ, European español, Deutsch, français, русский, português do Brasil, Italian, polski