Year: 2026

Radiofrequency Ablation is a catheter-based procedure that uses heat energy to modify small areas of heart tissue. It is a therapeutic procedure, most often used to treat certain cardiac arrhythmias (abnormal heart rhythms). It is commonly encountered in electrophysiology (EP), the cardiology subspecialty focused on heart rhythm disorders. It is typically performed in an EP laboratory using intracardiac mapping and continuous ECG monitoring.

Ablation Therapy is a procedure that intentionally destroys or modifies small areas of heart tissue to treat abnormal heart rhythms. It is a therapeutic intervention, most commonly performed using catheters inside the heart. In cardiology, it is frequently encountered in the evaluation and treatment of arrhythmias such as atrial fibrillation and supraventricular tachycardia. It is typically performed by cardiac electrophysiologists (cardiologists specializing in heart rhythm disorders).

Cardioversion is a procedure used to restore an abnormal heart rhythm back to a normal rhythm. It is a therapeutic intervention, most commonly performed for atrial arrhythmias such as atrial fibrillation. Cardioversion may be done with an electrical shock or with medications that change cardiac electrophysiology. It is commonly encountered in emergency care, inpatient cardiology, and outpatient rhythm management.

Defibrillation is a procedure that delivers an electrical shock to the heart to stop certain life-threatening arrhythmias. It is a therapeutic intervention, typically performed with a defibrillator or an automated external defibrillator (AED). In cardiology and emergency care, it is most commonly used during cardiac arrest from ventricular fibrillation or pulseless ventricular tachycardia. It is also closely related to synchronized cardioversion, which treats some organized tachyarrhythmias.

CRT D stands for cardiac resynchronization therapy defibrillator. It is an implanted cardiac device used in selected patients with heart failure and electrical dyssynchrony. It combines biventricular pacing (resynchronization) with the ability to treat dangerous ventricular arrhythmias by defibrillation. It is commonly encountered in heart failure clinics, electrophysiology, inpatient cardiology, and device follow-up settings.

Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy is a device-based treatment that coordinates how the heart’s ventricles contract. It is a **procedure and implanted cardiac device therapy** (a form of pacing). It is most commonly encountered in **heart failure care**, especially when an electrocardiogram (ECG) shows ventricular conduction delay. In cardiology, it sits at the intersection of **electrophysiology, heart failure, and device management**.

An ICD is an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator. It is a cardiac device designed to detect and treat certain dangerous fast heart rhythms. It belongs to the category of implantable therapeutic devices used in electrophysiology and heart failure care. It is commonly encountered when discussing prevention of sudden cardiac death in people at higher arrhythmic risk.

An Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator is a device placed in the body to detect and treat dangerous heart rhythms. It is a therapeutic cardiac implantable electronic device used in electrophysiology and heart failure care. It is commonly encountered when assessing risk of sudden cardiac death from ventricular arrhythmias. It may also provide pacing support in selected patients, depending on device type and programming.

A Permanent Pacemaker is an implanted cardiac device that helps control a slow heart rate. It belongs to the category of implantable cardiac rhythm devices used as a long-term therapy. It is commonly encountered in cardiology when evaluating bradyarrhythmias (slow rhythms) and conduction block. It is most often discussed alongside electrocardiography (ECG), syncope evaluation, and device follow-up care.

A Temporary Pacemaker is a cardiac device used to deliver electrical impulses to the heart for short-term rhythm support. It is a device-based therapy rather than a medication or diagnostic test. It is most often encountered in urgent care settings such as the emergency department, cardiac catheterization lab, and intensive care unit. It is typically used as a bridge while clinicians evaluate and treat the underlying cause of a slow or unstable heart rhythm.