Technology
Cryoablation
Cryoablation uses cold to treat the tissue responsible for certain arrhythmias through a catheter-based procedure.
Catheter treatment of cardiac arrhythmias is usually performed through the application of heat to eliminate the focus causing the arrhythmia. Cryoablation, on the contrary, uses the effect of freezing to eliminate local tissue causing the arrhythmia. The choice of technique depends on the type and location of the arrhythmia. Cryoablation can be useful near certain cardiac structures, but it also carries risks that the team assesses for each patient.
Further information: cardiac ablation and its risks (NHS).