Atrial Fibrillation (AF) Ablation (or Pulmonary Vein Antrum Isolation)
During the last 8 – 10 years, research has shown that most of the impulses generating AF come from the four pulmonary veins in the left atrium. The goal of the ablation procedure is to isolate these impulses and prevent them from fibrillating the heart. Other areas in the heart may be isolated if during the procedure the doctor finds that some impulses are coming from these areas.
Before the procedure, very thin wires are introduced into the heart through veins in the groin and threaded all the way up to the heart. A special device delivers energy through the catheters to the area of the atria that connects to the pulmonary vein (ostia). This energy (ablation) produces a circular scar that blocks any impulses firing from within the pulmonary vein, thereby "disconnecting" the pathway of the abnormal rhythm and preventing atrial fibrillation. In some cases, ablation also may be performed in other parts of the heart such as the superior vena cava. 
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