Ablation therapy uses energy sources, such as radio-frequency, or microwave energy to correct an irregular heartbeat. Various types of ablation are used depending on the type of arrhythmia experienced by the patient.

During ablation, a catheter is inserted into the patient’s heart and the area generating the arrhythmia is identified. A device is then used to direct energy to the heart muscle that ablates, or destroys, the area it contacts. This technique can either "disconnect" or "isolate" the pathway of the abnormal rhythm. The energy may also be used to disconnect the electrical pathway between the atria, or upper chambers, and the ventricles, or lower chambers of the heart. In this case, a pacemaker would be used to control the heart rate.