
Catheter Ablation
3. “Are there different types of “Pulmonary Vein Ablation”? Are they different from “Pulmonary Vein Isolation?”
Treatment of Atrial Fibrillation by catheter ablation (or Isolation) of the Pulmonary Veins is a relatively new procedure. The techniques and language are still evolving. In general, the terms Pulmonary Vein Ablation (PVA) and Pulmonary Vein Isolation (PVI) are used interchangeably. See also, our article The Evolving Terminology of Catheter Ablation.
Commonly, the terms include the following variations:
• Pulmonary Vein Antrum Isolation
• Circumferential Ablation
• Anatomically-Based Circumferential PV Ablation
• Left Atrial Catheter Ablation
• Segmental Ablation
These variations are all similar in their approach. Their primary emphasis is the ablation/isolation of the Pulmonary Vein openings.
‘Pulmonary Vein Ablation’ differs from other types of catheter ablation used in treating A-Fib, such as Ablation of the AV Node. For more details, see Treatments/Catheter Ablation.
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