Mayo Clinic electrophysiologist Suraj Kapa, M.D., discusses cardiac ablation for treatment of ventricular tachycardia. Visit http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseasesco... for more information on cardiac ablation, ventricular tachycardia, or to schedule an appointment.

Cardiac ablation is an invasive procedure that provides access to the heart with the use of IV lines and catheters inserted through the veins or arteries. This allows electrophysiologists to determine where the arrhythmia (irregular heart beat) is coming from and apply different types of energy to destroy the cells producing the arrhythmia. These ablation procedures can include radiofrequency energy, heat energy, or cryo (cold) energy. During a cardiac ablation fluoroscopy, intracardiac echocardiography, and 3D electroanatomic mapping is used to visualize the structures within the heart as well as create a threedimensional shell of the heart.

When determining treatment for ventricular tachycardia, it is important to first determine a cause, how quickly the patient needs to be treated, and if other treatment mechanisms, such as a defibrillator, are in place.

Watch Part 1:    • Ablation: Treatment for Ventricular T...