Radio frequency ablation (RFA) is an adjunctive surgical treatment that can be used for patients with any history of atrial fibrillation. While the heart is accessible for an open heart surgery procedure, the surgeon uses a catheter with an electrode on the tip to perform the ablation. Radiofrequency energy is transmitted to the site of the heart muscle where the cells are giving off the electrical signal that has the abnormal heart rhythm. This radiofrequency “burn” destroys carefully selected heart muscle in a very small area, which will stop the area from conducting extra impulses that are causing the rapid heartbeats or atrial fibrillation.