8-835.e:

An area of your heart has been destroyed using lasers.

The heart's electrical activity causes the heart muscle to contract. It begins at a site in your right atrium. Initially the electrical activity spreads to both atria. The electrical activity then flows on via a sort of cable to the ventricles.

When cardiac currents occur in another area, or when they are routed differently to the norm, cardiac arrhythmia may occur. The heartbeat may then lose its usual rhythm. By destroying the areas concerned, the heartbeat can return to normal.

You were treated using a catheter. A catheter is a thin tube. This tube is inserted into a blood vessel in the groin or arm, and pushed further in. Various instruments can be pushed at the front of the tube.

During the treatment, images of the inside of your blood vessels and your heart were shown on a screen. Images like these can be taken using a camera positioned at the tip of the catheter. The catheter can also be used to push a balloon into a blood vessel. This balloon can be used to stop the flow of blood for a while so that the area to be destroyed can be clearly seen on the screen.