What is one drawback of high blood flow in the catheter region during RF ablation?

During radiofrequency (RF) ablation, high blood flow in the catheter region can significantly impact the effectiveness of the procedure. Specifically, it limits convective cooling. When blood flow is increased, it can carry away heat from the targeted tissue more effectively. This can prevent the lesion from achieving the desired temperature needed for effective ablation, which is crucial for creating a proper thermal lesion.

Successful ablation relies on precise control of the temperature to ensure that the tissue is adequately heated to achieve necrosis or cell death without damaging surrounding healthy tissue. Thus, while blood flow is essential for tissue health and healing post-procedure, an excessive amount during the procedure can interfere with the heating process, hindering the effectiveness of RF ablation.