What is an ablation procedure?

According to WebMD, ablation is a medical procedure intended to treat heart arrhythmia, a condition in which the heart has an abnormal rhythm. Ablation is performed surgically or non-surgically, depending on the type of arrhythmia and whether the patient suffers from other types of heart disease.

WebMD further mentions that non-surgical ablation involves inserting a catheter into a specific region of the heart. A device then stimulates the heart muscle in the areas which cause the abnormal rhythm. Surgical ablation may be performed through minimally invasive or open surgery, and it can be combined with other medical procedures such as heart valve repair, valve replacement or bypass surgery.