Ablation means destroying the tissue without removal, Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is a non-surgical, minimally-invasive therapy which destroys or impairs the target tissue, nerves by generating heat to target with small electric current (modified radiofrequency energy)
It’s a minimally-invasive procedure performed by inserting an introducer needle through skin and layers of muscle and soft tissues
It is increasingly used to treat a wide variety of conditions.
Pain – Patients suffering from chronic pain symptoms not relieved from conservative treatment options including physical therapy, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), corticosteroid injections.
Tumours -RFA performed to treat tumours in the lung, liver, kidney, and bone, as well as other body organs. RFA results in destruction of the tumour, it uses heat to destroy cancer cells with minimal damage to adjacent vital structures, used to cure cancer, reduce its size or relieve pain, may be used instead of surgery in few cases
Electrode applies electric current to a tumour, the current heats the cancer cells to high temperature which destroys them.
Follow up repeat scan after RFA to show how well the treatment worked
Cardiac arrhythmia -ablation is performed in people who have been diagnosed with abnormal heart rhythm not responding to medicines, thus used to destroy abnormal electrical pathways that are leading to a cardiac arrhythmia, there is a very small burn which is proven to be safe ,Radiofrequency ablation in cases of arrythmia has good success rate specially in supra ventricular tachycardia .
Varicose veins -Radiofrequency ablation used in the treatment of varicose veins, relies on thermal damage to veins leading to their closure
Cost of radiofrequency ablation in India ranges from USD 2500-5000, depending upon type of ablation to be done .
How is radiofrequency ablation performed ?
- The procedure can take from twenty minutes to an hour, depending upon the areas to be treated
- an anaesthetic given.
- With the help of Imaging techniques the needle is guided for proper insertion.
- Microelectrode is inserted through the needle. High frequency current that generates heat is transmitted through the electrodes directly into affected nerves or into thetargeted tissues or tumour.
- The heat impairs or destroys the targeted nerves or tumour.
Complications of Radiofrequency ablation there are chances of an electrical burn, infection, permanent nerve damage, temporary bruising at the needle insertion site, minor bleeding.Unesy sensation with slight raised temperature in RFA of tumours as a result of the body clearing the cells that have been destroyed.
Radiofrequency ablation is avoided in patients on a blood thinning medication, Patients with an active infection, Patients with poorly controlled diabetes or heart disease, with clotting issues, pregnancy, morbidly obese patients should be careful
Radiofrequency is being increasingly used for cardiac arrythmias, varicose veins, tumours, pain relief. It is a safe and effective procedure ,however in cases where not successful in the first attempt the procedure can be repeated at a later date.