Sometimes atrial fibrillation will come back shortly after the procedure or several months later. You might be more likely to have this problem if you are older, have other heart problems, or have a longer duration of atrial fibrillation. Performing the ablation again can permanently eliminate atrial fibrillation in some of these people. Talk with your doctor about what you should do to prepare for your atrial fibrillation ablation. Avoid eating or drinking anything before midnight of the day of your procedure.
Let your doctor know if you are pregnant before having the procedure. Ablation uses radiation, which may be a risk to the fetus.
Someone will shave your skin above the area of operation usually in your groin. About an hour before the operation, you will be given medicine to help you relax. Talk with your doctor about what to expect during your ablation. The procedure usually takes 3 to 6 hours. A cardiologist and a special team of nurses and technicians will do the ablation. During the procedure:. Talk with your doctor about what to expect after your ablation.
In the hospital after the procedure:. Call your doctor if your leg is numb or if your puncture site swells. Also call your doctor if you have chest pain, an irregular heartbeat, or shortness of breath. After you leave the hospital, it is important to follow all the instructions your healthcare provider gives you for medicines, exercise, diet, and wound care. Be sure to keep all your follow-up appointments. Health Home Treatments, Tests and Therapies.
Why do I need ablation? What are the risks for ablation? Other risks include: Bleeding, infection, and pain from the catheter insertion Damage to the blood vessels from the catheter Puncture to the heart Damage to the heart, which might require a permanent pacemaker Blood clots, which might lead to a stroke Narrowing of the pulmonary veins veins that transport blood from the lungs to the heart Radiation exposure You are more likely to have complications if you are older or if you have certain other medical and heart conditions.
How do I prepare for an ablation? However, they should not drive or drink alcohol for 24 hours. They should also avoid strenuous physical activity for around 3 days. For this procedure, people stay in the hospital for 2—5 days , and recovery takes about 2 weeks. Surgical ablation requires the most complicated healing process, with people needing 5—7 days of hospitalization and a 4-week recovery period. They should also follow the post-procedure instructions they receive from their doctor, which will be relevant to their situation and the procedures they have had.
Cardiac ablation surgery is generally effective. However, people may still have noticeable arrhythmias for a few weeks afterward. They may even need medication to control their symptoms. Researchers report that catheter ablation surgery can successfully correct both short- and long-term arrhythmias. Although people can return to work and many activities soon afterward, it can take up to 3 months after catheter ablation for the body to heal enough for the benefits of the procedure to be apparent.
A study found a Sometimes, A-fib symptoms can return. Cardiac ablation surgery can help correct arrhythmias, which are irregularities in the rate of the heartbeat, the rhythm of the heartbeat, or both.
Catheter ablation, surgical ablation, and a hybrid procedure combining elements of both are the basic approaches to cardiac ablation. These procedures are generally effective for conditions such as A-fib and atrial flutter.
What is atrial flutter? Continue reading to find out what atrial flutter is, its causes, symptoms, risk factors, and how to treat it. Open heart surgery is an operation to repair a fault or damage in the heart.
It is a major operation during which the surgeon will open the chest to…. You'll need to stop eating and drinking the night before your procedure. Your doctor or nurse will tell you how or if you should continue any medications before a cardiac ablation.
Cardiac ablation is done in the hospital. A specialist will insert an IV into your forearm or hand and give you a medication called a sedative to help you relax.
The amount of sedation needed for the procedure depends on your specific arrhythmia and other health conditions. You may be being fully awake or lightly sedated, or you may be given general anesthesia fully asleep.
During cardiac ablation, catheters are passed through a vein in order to reach your heart. Catheters may be inserted in your groin, your shoulder or your neck. The doctor inserts the catheter through a blood vessel into your heart.
More than one catheter is often used. The catheters may be inserted through a blood vessel in your groin most common , shoulder or neck less common. Your doctor may inject dye through the catheter, which helps your blood vessels show up more clearly on X-ray images.
Sensors on the tip of the catheter send electrical impulses and record your heart's electricity. Your doctor uses this information to identify the area that is causing your arrhythmia and to decide where to apply the ablation.
This part of the procedure is called an electrophysiology EP study. One of the following ablation techniques is used to create small scars in your heart and block the abnormal heart rhythms:. You may feel some minor discomfort when the catheter is moved into your heart and when energy is being delivered. If you have severe pain or shortness of breath, let your doctor know. Cardiac ablation usually takes three to six hours to complete but it can vary a lot based on the type of arrhythmia you have.
Afterward, you'll be taken to a recovery area for a few hours where doctors and nurses will closely monitor you. A small straw-sized tube called a sheath will be inserted into the blood vessel. The doctor will gently guide a catheter a long, thin tube into your vessel through the sheath.
A video screen will show the position of the catheter. The doctor inserts several long, thin tubes with wires, called electrode catheters, through the sheath and feeds these tubes into your heart. To locate the abnormal tissue causing arrhythmia, the doctor sends a small electrical impulse through the electrode catheter. This activates the abnormal tissue that is causing your arrhythmia. The doctor places the catheter at the exact site inside your heart where the abnormal cells are.
Then, a mild, painless, radiofrequency energy similar to microwave heat is sent to the tissue. Catheter ablation usually takes 2 to 4 hours. If you have more than one area of abnormal tissue, the procedure will take longer. You can usually go home the same day, or you may have to stay overnight. What happens after catheter ablation?
After the doctor or nurse removes the sheath: A nurse will put pressure on the puncture site to stop the bleeding. You should keep your leg straight for 6 to 8 hours after the doctor or nurse removes the sheath. The nurse will tell you when you can get out of bed. The nurse will watch you carefully and check your heartbeat and vital signs pulse and blood pressure. Tell your doctor or nurse right away if you notice any swelling, pain or bleeding at the puncture site, or if you have chest pain.
Before you leave the hospital, the nurse will give you written instructions about what to do at home. Aspirin is often prescribed for 2 to 4 weeks to minimize risk of clot formation at ablation sites.
What happens after I get home? Avoid heavy physical activity for three days. Ask your doctor when you can return to strenuous exercise. A small bruise at the puncture site is normal.
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