Ablation is a technique used to treat abnormalities of the heart's electrical system that has caused the heart to beat fast, irregularly, or with too many extra beats. It involves ablating (destroying) a very small, targeted area of the heart muscle. By destroying the area responsible for the abnormal rhythm, ablation restores a normal heartbeat. Ablations are performed in a hospital's specialized cardiac catheterization laboratory by highly trained electrophysiology cardiologists.
Ablations are done using radiofrequency energy (similar to microwave heat). During radiofrequency ablation, a catheter with an electrode at its tip is guided through a blood vessel into your heart. The electrode sends out radiofrequency energy that burns way the cells that are causing the fast heartbeat. The catheter is then removed from your body.