Sometimes the best way to treat an arrhythmia is to destroy the tissue where it originates. In certain heartbeat irregularities, a group of cells begins firing electrical impulses independently, throwing heart rhythm into disarray. Although medication is used to suppress many of these arrhythmias, incomplete response, side effects, or other considerations may make other options more attractive. Deactivating the tissue responsible for the arrhythmia may be accomplished by a technique called ablation. This can be accomplished directly with surgery, or through a catheter.
Success rates are generally high.
Depending on the type of abnormality being treated, most patients will achieve a complete cure. Others will gain better control of their condition, either with or without continuing medication. For a small percentage, the procedure brings no improvement. Once the cardiologist could identify and stimulate target areas in the heart's conduction system, they began trying to adapt the catheters to a treatment modality. The first adaptations delivered direct current electricity to the heart muscle.