RADIOFREQUENCY ABLATION

Course overview

THE USE OF RADIOFREQUENCY ABLATION FOR INTRACTABLE PAIN IS BASED ON THE PREMISE THAT THE TRANSMISSION OF RADIOFREQUENCY CURRENTS NEAR NOCICEPTIVE PATHWAYS WILL INTERRUPT PAIN IMPULSES. THE THERMAL ENERGY ASSOCIATED WITH RADIOFREQUENCY ABLATION LEADS TO TISSUE DESTRUCTION, WHICH IS TARGETED AT THE NERVES RESPONSIBLE FOR TRANSMITTING AND/OR MODULATING THE SENSATION OF PAIN. TODAY, THERE ARE MULTIPLE TYPES OF RADIOFREQUENCY ABLATION PROCEDURES. THESE INCLUDE PULSED RADIOFREQUENCY ABLATION, WATER-COOLED RADIOFREQUENCY ABLATION, AND CRYONEUROLYSIS. THIS ACTIVITY REVIEWS THE INDICATIONS, CONTRAINDICATIONS, AND TECHNIQUES INVOLVED IN PERFORMING RADIOFREQUENCY ABLATION AND HIGHLIGHTS THE ROLE OF THE INTERPROFESSIONAL TEAM IN THE CARE OF PATIENTS UNDERGOING THIS PROCEDURE.