Catheter Ablation with Radiofrequency Energy: Biophysical Aspects and Clinical Applications

Radiofrequency Catheter Ablation. Radiofrequency catheter ablation techniques are becoming increasingly accepted as the therapy of choice for selected patients with symptomatic arrhythmias. The ability to titrate the power output using radiofrequency current has allowed these ablative techniques to be applied safely in a variety of arrhythmias. In many institutions, radiofrequency catheter ablation has now become standard therapy for controlling medically refractory atrial arrhythmias using atrioventricular (AV) junction ablation and for curing AV nodal reentrant tachycardia and supraventricular tachycardia due to accessory AV Connections. This technology is also being used to treat some forms of ventricular tachycardia such as bundle branch reentry ventricular tachycardia, ventricular tachycardia in structurally normal hearts, and with limited success in patients with ventricular tachycardia and coronary artery disease. Advancements in catheter design and energy delivery systems may further expand the use of this form of therapy. (J Cardiovasc Electrophysiol, Vol. 3. pp. 173-186, April 1992)