What is the heart’s conduction system?
The conduction system in the heart is a circuit of tissue bundles that act as wires. These “wires” carry an electrical impulse down a defined circuit that causes the orderly contraction (squeezing) of heart muscle. The tissue pathways that form the conduction system are in both the upper and lower chambers of the heart. Abnormalities in the conduction system can result in heart rates that are too fast, too slow, very irregular, or a combination of these. The abnormalities may be present from birth or may be caused by disease. When is ablation necessary? Many drugs are available to treat abnormal heartbeats. Sometimes, however, drugs cannot be used because of side effects or lack of good results. For some heart rhythm abnormalities, a better treatment is to interrupt, or ablate, part of the conduction system. Successful ablation does away with the need for and the expense of taking drugs. How is ablation done? To successfully interrupt an abnormal conduction pathway, your doctor needs t
