Atrial Fibrillation (AF) Catheter Ablation

It involves the insertion of catheters, or fine wires, into the heart through the veins at the top of the leg. There are electrodes at the tip of the wires that detect electrical signals from different parts of the heart.

There are three main techniques that can be used as follows: 1) Radio Frequency or RF Ablation in which radio waves are used to create heat that destroys (ablates) the electrical signals that are responsible for triggering Atrial Fibrillation (AF). These signals are usually located inside the pulmonary veins in the majority of patients and this technique is called Pulmonary Vein Isolation. 2) Cryoablation: Pulmonary vein isolation here is achieved through freezing around the origin of the veins. 3) Pulse Field Ablation or PFA. This is the latest pioneering technique using a revolutionary new technology, called Farapulse PFA. Dorset Heart Clinic is the only private centre in Dorset, and one of only a very few private centres in the UK, licensed to perform PFA.  

There are few differences between the three techniques and your cardiologist will advise which is the optimal strategy for you.