Final answer:
During a Slow pathway ablation for treating atrioventricular nodal reentrant tachycardia (AVNRT), the ablation catheter is typically located at the inferior part of the atrial septum, close to the tricuspid valve, where the slow pathway is found. The procedure involves using radiofrequency energy to destroy the tissue responsible for the abnormal heart rhythm.
Step-by-step explanation:
Ablation is a medical procedure used to treat various heart rhythm disorders, one of which is the atrioventricular nodal reentrant tachycardia (AVNRT). During a Slow pathway ablation, which is specifically aimed at treating AVNRT, the ablation catheter is typically positioned in the region of the heart where the slow pathway is located. This is generally at the inferior part of the atrial septum, near the tricuspid valve. The goal of the procedure is to destroy (ablate) the tiny area of cardiac tissue that is responsible for the abnormal electrical signals causing the tachycardia without damaging the normal conduction tissues.
To perform the ablation, an electrophysiologist introduces the catheter into the heart through a vein, usually starting from the groin. The catheter is carefully navigated to the correct area of the heart using live X-ray imaging called fluoroscopy, as well as advanced mapping technologies, to guide the precise delivery of energy (radiofrequency energy or sometimes cryoenergy) to the targeted tissues.
After the procedure, the heart's electrical system should no longer permit the rapid, circular movements of electrical impulses that characterize AVNRT, effectively resolving the tachycardia.