Search:

Catheter Ablation Procedures for Supraventricular Tachyarrhythmia (SVTA) Including Atrial Flutter, Atrial Fibrillation

Topic Summary

Catheter ablation is a procedure used to treat some types of heart arrhythmias (variations from a normal heartbeat). The procedure is typically performed in a catheter lab and involves guided insertion of catheters from the arm, groin, or neck through the blood vessel and into the heart. In radiofrequency catheter ablation, radiofrequency energy is sent through the catheters to a focal point in the heart that is believed to be the source of the arrhythmia; this energy ablates (destroys) very small areas of the heart. Other types of catheter ablation are becoming available, such as cryoablation. Catheter ablation is most commonly used to treat tachyarrhythmias that originate above the ventricles.

Primary Criteria Ranking

Safety = Medium
Efficacy = High
Cost = High

Documents

Final Key Questions (200.9 KB)
Final Key Questions - Comments and Response (621.2 KB)
Draft Report - Public Comments (1.3 MB)
Draft Report - Peer Review Comments (1.1 MB)
Final Evidence Report (2.1 MB)
Final Evidence Report – Appendices (1.6 MB)