London Cardiologist comments on importance of Catheter Ablation

Updated Tuesday, August 12, 2014 - 22:32
Published Tue, 08/12/2014 - 22:26
Heart Rhythm Disorders

London Cardiologist, Dr Oliver Segal from The Heart Hospital says, "From my perspective of arrhythmia, I would say the most important invention in the last 50 years is the invention (initially quite fortuitously) of catheter ablation, which has since progressed at an astounding rate so that we can now potentially treat (and often cure) almost every single cardiac arrhythmia using keyhole techniques".

Catheter Ablation is It is a treatment for atrial fibrillation (AF), an irregular heart rhythm, using catheters inside the heart to ablate (remove or destroy) tissue using a laser guided by a camera.

This minimally invasive method means that patient go home again the same or the following day. In his article for Total Health - "A Personal Approach to Treating Heart Conditions" Dr Segal goes on to say, "As I am old enough to remember when the vast majority of patients were not offered ablation, I know how much of a difference this has made to the quality of life of my patients."

AF results from abnormal electrical impulses in the atria, which can lead to the following symptoms:
  • rapid, irregular palpitations,
  • breathlessness,
  • chest pain,
  • light-headedness or
  • tiredness.
Atrial fibrillation is the most common heart rhythm disorder in the developed world and is the leading cause of stroke in younger people and can sometimes cause heart failure. AF results from abnormal electrical impulses in the atria, which can lead to rapid, irregular palpitations, breathlessness, chest pain, light-headedness or tiredness.
Drugs are often ineffective but it can often now be cured by catheter ablation, performed as a keyhole procedure with patients needing only one night in hospital. Dr Segal is an expert in performing catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation
An abbreviation for atrial fibrillation Full medical glossary
Any form of disturbance to the heart's normal regular beat Full medical glossary
The two upper chambers of the heart. Full medical glossary
A common abnormal heart rhythm causing a rapid, irregular pulse and failure of the upper chambers of the heart (atria) to pump properly. Abbreviated to AF. Full medical glossary
Relating to the heart Full medical glossary
A tube used either to drain fluid from the body or to introduce fluid into the body. Full medical glossary
a treatment for atrial fibrillation using catheters inside the heart to ablate tissue using a laser guided by a camera. Full medical glossary
Abnormally fast and uneven contractions of the heart muscle, so that blood cannot be pumped efficiently Full medical glossary
Failure of the heart to pump adequately. Full medical glossary
A large abdominal organ that has many important roles including the production of bile and clotting factors, detoxification, and the metabolism of proteins, carbohydrates and fats. Full medical glossary
The feeling when you become aware of your heartbeat - when frightened, for example. Full medical glossary
Any sudden neurological problem caused by a bleed or a clot in a blood vessel. Full medical glossary
A group of cells with a similar structure and a specialised function. Full medical glossary