Heart Rhythm Disorders

Procedure Information

Atrial fibrillation Ablation procedures

Atrial fibrillation is the most common heart rhythm disorder seen. There are many treatment options. Ablation, for those considered to be a good candidate, is one of the most effective ways in controlling the arrhythmia long term. The general steps in preparing a patient for the procedure will be outlined below.

Preparing for the procedure:

The date and time of your procedure will be coordinated with you and the Doctor’s schedule.

Please do not eat or drink anything after midnight prior to the procedure. The nursing staff will let you know if any of your routine medications will be held. Generally, we hold diabetes medications. Blood thinners and blood pressure medications will be continued. There are times when the blood thinners will be held so please ask for clarification if you are unsure.

You will be asked not to drive for 48 hours after the procedure so please make arrangements beforehand.

Most patients will be discharged the same day of the procedure. There might be situations where we would keep patients overnight so please pack a bag just in case.

Please bring all your medications with you on the day of the procedure.

Once you are checked in, preparation for the procedure will begin. An IV will be started, an EKG will be obtained, and the groin will be trimmed. If you did not get blood work prior, this will be obtained while the IV’s are being started. The anesthesiology team will meet you to discuss how sedation will be administered. Most patients will be placed under general anesthesia for the duration of the procedure.

Consents for the procedure will be obtained. For some patients a transesophageal echo (TEE) will be needed prior to the procedure. This procedure is usually done after the patient is put to sleep. The procedure consists of a scope being passed down the esophagus to evaluate for blood clots. Although uncommon, should a blood clot be seen the procedure could be cancelled.

During the procedure

Patients are taken to a special cardiac catheterization lab where the procedure will be performed. The procedure is performed on a long table with X-ray arms so pictures of the heart can be obtained during the procedure. We use very sophisticated equipment with lots of wires and cameras. Please don’t be intimated by the technology. This technology is necessary to perform the procedure.

After the procedure

Immediately after the procedure, patients go to recovery. Bed rest for 3-4 hours is usually needed. A temporary stitch is sometimes placed in the groin to help control bleeding over the skin where the blood vessel is entered. This stitch will be removed prior to discharge.

As with any surgical procedure, some degree of discomfort can be experienced. There can be some pain in the chest and groin immediately following the procedure. This discomfort may last for several days. If the pain becomes intense, please call the clinic to discuss the situation.

Patients will be discharged with a medication list and follow-up appointment. In some situations, medication changes could be made. It is very uncommon for blood thinners to be stopped immediately after the procedure. Please contact the office if any questions arise.

After returning home, we ask patients to mostly rest and relax. Walking around the house or a flight of steps is allowable. Please do not lift anything that would cause strain for the first week after the procedure. Showing after 24 hours if acceptable. Please do not tub bathe for 48 hours. Limitations after 1 week of the procedure are uncommon.

Palpitations and short lived episodes of atrial fibrillation can be experienced within the first couple of weeks after the procedure. Please do not be alarmed by these episodes. Should episodes last much longer, please contact the office for next steps. Occasionally, a procedure to restore normal rhythm might be needed while the heart is healing from the ablation procedure.