RFA is used to treat certain types of tachycardia and arrhythmia.
Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is a nonsurgical medical procedure in which a high-frequency alternating current is used to ablate (destroy) a portion of biological tissue. RFA is most commonly used to treat heart rhythm irregularities, cancerous tumors and certain types of chronic pain.
Pros for Uses in Cardiology
According to the American Heart Association, cardiac RFA, or catheter ablation, has a high success rate with a low risk of complications. Only mild sedation is required and patients experience little or no discomfort during the procedure. Most patients are able to return to their normal routines within a few days.
Cons for Uses in Cardiology
Complications of catheter ablation are related to the mechanics of the procedure. Physicians perform a catheter ablation by inserting a catheter (special wire) through an artery or vein in the groin. Fluoroscopy (a type of X-ray) is used to guide the catheter to the heart. Infrequently, threading a catheter through a blood vessel can create blood clots, damage the blood vessel, perforate the heart muscle or damage a valve in the heart. In addition, prolonged exposure to fluoroscopy radiation may cause a small increase in the lifetime risk of cancer.
Pros and Cons for Uses in Treating Cancer
RFA treatment for cancer is a minimally invasive procedure in which a needle is inserted into a tumor. The needle delivers energy that heats and destroys cancer cells. The area treated turns into a lesion that heals into a scar, which may be permanent. Research published by Cardiovascular and Interventional Radiology indicates that the most common problem with RFA treatments is pain from the lesion. However, complications of radiofrequency ablation are very low and most problems resolve themselves over time. RFA treatments usually take less than an hour and the patient is able to return home the next day.
Pros and Cons for Treating Pain
Radiofrequency ablation is used to treat severe pain in the lower back.
Radiofrequency ablation is used to treat chronic lower back pain, neck pain and arthritis pain by heating and destroying nerves that carry pain signals to the brain. The procedure is minimally invasive and can be completed on an outpatient basis in two to three hours. Information published by University of Utah Health Care states that more than 70 percent of patients treated with RFA experience pain relief that lasts for six months to a year. Problems associated with RFA include no pain relief after treatment, an increase in pain that may last up to two weeks and a slight risk for infection or bleeding at the needle insertion site.
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