Catheter ablation & Heart Surgery

http://www.revolutionhealth.com/articles/catheter-ablation-for-atrial-fibrillation/hw159948
http://www.texasheartinstitute.org/hic/topics/proced/
http://www.texasheartinstitute.org/hic/topics/proced/mazes.cfm

Basically this is an extension on the previous topic. Related but is a different thing altogether. It's about atrial fibrillation. Basically these procedures are done when conventional medical treatment fails to treat the condition.

Catheter Ablation
Indication: Refractory atrial fibrillation (not responding to medication)
Method: Thin, flexible wires are inserted into a vein in the groin and threaded up through the vein and into the heart. There is an electrode at the tip of the wires. The electrode sends out radio waves that create heat. This heat destroys the heart tissue that causes atrial fibrillation or the heart tissue that keeps it happening.

1) Focal ablation
2) Circumferential ablation
3) Pulmonary vein ablation
4) Nodal ablation (attempt to control symptoms)

http://www.revolutionhealth.com/articles/av-node-ablation/zm6205

Of note of this procedure is that a permanent pacemaker would be inserted (note that this procedure actually destroys an AVN. So definitely you need to reimburse something right?)

Maze Surgery
Indication: Chronic Atrial Fibrillation
Method: Refer to Day of Surgery