How to treat an arrhythmia

30/04/2024

Cardiac arrhythmias are characterized as changes in the heart rhythm (“beats”). Diagnosis is made through ECG and Holter. Echocardiography is important for evaluating associated structural heart diseases and for analyzing ventricular function. Initial treatment is generally medication and the choice of drug depends on each case. However, some patients require invasive treatment such as radiofrequency ablation (curative treatment in many cases or even the implantation of pacemakers and/or defibrillators.

The electrophysiological study, as well as ablation, is performed using catheters, without the need to open the chest to access the heart. These catheters are positioned at the focus of the arrhythmia and an energy, called radiofrequency, is used to heat the tissue and “burn the location of the focus”, eliminating the arrhythmia. There is also the cryoablation technique, in which the cooling of the tissue promotes the blockage of the arrhythmia.

by Pro Cardíaca

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