What is radio frequency oblation?

Answer 1

Radiofrequency ablation: The use of electrodes to generate heat and destroy abnormal tissue.

In radiofrequency ablation (RFA), heat is generated locally by a high frequency, alternating current that flows from the electrodes. A probe is inserted into the center of the tumor and the non-insulated electrodes, which are shaped like prongs, are projected into the tumor. The local heat that is generated melts the tissue (coagulative necrosis) that is adjacent to the probe. This results in a 3 cm to 5.5 cm sphere of dead tissue per treatment session. The probe is left in place for about 10 to 15 minutes.

RFA has been used for thermal ablation in bone, liver, kidney, heart, prostate, breast, brain lymph nodes, nerve ganglia, and soft tissue. RFA has various clinical applications including treating arrythmias (abnormal heart rhythms), tumors, osteoid osteoma, and nerve ganglion ablation.

The cells killed by RFA are not removed, but are gradually replaced by fibrosis and scar tissue. Over the coming months, the treated tissue shrinks. If there is local recurrence, it occurs at the edge, and in some cases may be retreated.

Answer 2

In simple terms it is a means of destroying a focussed area of tissue by using high frequency electricity, hence it is locally damaging but the energy is absorbed locally so very focussed tissue damage occurs.

What it is used for depeneds on what disease process it is being used for. The most easy example would be that used for corretion of cardiac arrhythmias. Either via a percutaneous catheter in the angiography lab or at the time of open heart surgery, the doctor will map out conduction pathways in the heart via an endocardial probe.

When the abberant pathway is identfied it is radio-ablated. Thus the source of tachyarrhythmia is destroyed, restoring the heart to a more normal rhythm.

Answer 3

I just had one on my heart. They gave me some heavy sedation and pain medication and ran a wire up through my right and left groins. While I was gorked out, they used the wire to burn a very small spot in my heart to make it quit beating too fast. It worked.