Catheter ablation of arrhythmia is usually performed immediately after a diagnostic electrophysiology (EP) study while the patient is still on the table in the cardiac electrophysiology laboratory. If appropriate and safe based on the information gathered up to that point. A special catheter is maneuvered into the heart from a site in the groin, and the physician interprets the electrical signals at the catheter tip using a mapping system to pinpoint the site of origin of the arrhythmia. When the catheter is at a site that is appropriate for ablation, radiofrequency current is delivered through the catheter tip. The energy heats the heart tissue at the site in a controlled manner. The purpose of the ablation is to prevent electrical impulses from traveling through the tissue any longer and to prevent arrhythmia recurrence.

Most patients do not notice the delivery of the radio frequency current, but sometimes a patient may experience chest discomfort during energy delivery; the vast majority of the time this is not dangerous. Depending on the type of arrhythmia that is being ablated, it may require anywhere from several minutes to several hours of mapping and ablation in order to complete the procedure. If the operating physician feels that the risk of damage to the native electrical system from radiofrequency ablation is too high, cold energy (cryoablation) may be used in order to treat the arrhythmia instead.

After the procedure the catheters are pulled from the groin entry site and pressure will be held in order to prevent bleeding complications. The patient will be asked to remain on bed rest for 4-6 hours while the catheter sites heal.