How does ablation work

The ablated or destroyed areas of tissue inside your heart may take up to eight weeks to heal. You may still have arrhythmias irregular heartbeats during the first few weeks after your ablation. During this time, you may need anti-arrhythmic medications or other treatment. You may experience the following symptoms:. After your procedure you need to carefully return to your normal activities.

These are general guidelines, but your doctor may modify them to suit your particular situation:. The evening of your procedure, we will ask you to start walking. In most cases, you can return to office work in two to three days. In his late 20s, Parker Donat was an active guy known for his dedicated gym routine.

By age 33, he was struggling to keep up with his wife Kristi during hikes—even when she had their small son strapped to her chest.

Read Parker's Story. For many, the condition shows little to no symptoms but may lead to complications including strok If medications and lifestyle changes are still not improving your atrial fibrillation symptoms, it may be time to consider a surgical option. Cardiovascular surgeon Dr. Jared Bunch discusses cardiac ablation to treat A-f Atrial fibrillation is a rhythm disorder of the heart characterized by extra heartbeats in the upper chambers of the heart.

Call or Request an Appointment. Before Your Procedure: Testing. The Day Of Take only medications your doctor has told you to take with a small sip of water. Remove makeup and fingernail polish.

Do not wear perfume or lotions with any fragrance. If you wear glasses, contacts, or dentures, bring a case to store them in.

Things to Bring With You to Your Cardiac Ablation Work release form if needed Any heart medical records List of current medications or current medication bottles This list should include the drug name, dose, and how often you should take it. Any questions you may have Your insurance card s and ID picture Day of the Procedure Once you arrive at the hospital, a nurse will insert an IV into your arm to give you any medications and fluids that you will need during the procedure.

The Cardiac Ablation Procedure For some patients, doctors can perform an ablation without changing your heart's rhythm. Read more about what happens during cardiac ablation. After Your Procedure When the procedure is finished, your doctor will remove all the catheters. After your procedure, you may stay at the hospital overnight so hospital staff can watch you.

Ablation Risks The chances of having health problems after a catheter ablation are fairly low. A gallon of milk is about 10 pounds. Scarring helps prevent the heart from conducting the abnormal electrical signals that cause atrial fibrillation. Sometimes doctors use a surgical approach instead. This is most common when a person is already having heart surgery for another reason. Some people have unpleasant symptoms from atrial fibrillation, like shortness of breath and palpitations. Atrial fibrillation also greatly increases the risk of stroke.

Anticoagulant medicines used for preventing stroke pose their own risks, and people on certain anticoagulation medicines require extra blood draws and monitoring. The main reason for ablation is to control symptoms. It is not intended to eliminate the need for blood thinners for stroke prevention. Many people with atrial fibrillation take medicines to help control their heart rate or their heart rhythm.

Some people respond poorly to these medicines. In such cases, the doctor may suggest ablation to correct the problem. Ablation may be more likely to work long-term if you have atrial fibrillation that has lasted for 7 days or less. It may be less likely to work long-term if you have more persistent atrial fibrillation. Ablation might be a good option for you if you have no other structural problems with your heart. It also might be a good option for you if you have symptoms from your atrial fibrillation.

Currently, healthcare providers treat most people with medicine before considering ablation but ablation can be considered a first line alternative to heart rhythm medicine. Ask your doctor about the pros and cons of the procedure in your particular situation. You may have specific risks based on your specific medical conditions. Be sure to discuss all your concerns with your healthcare provider before your ablation.

Most people who have atrial fibrillation ablation have a successful outcome. There are some risks associated with the procedure, however. Although rare, there is the risk of death. Other risks include:. You are more likely to have complications if you are older or if you have certain other medical and heart conditions. 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. If the site starts to bleed, lie flat and press firmly on top of it.

Have someone call the doctor or hospital. Call if you notice: The puncture site swells up very fast. Bleeding from the puncture site does not slow down when you press on it firmly. Call your doctor if: Your leg with the puncture becomes numb or tingles, or your foot feels cold or turns blue.

You may develop a bruise and soreness where the catheters were inserted. You will stay in the hospital for a few hours or overnight. During this time, your heart rate and blood pressure will be monitored. Your movement will be limited to prevent bleeding in the area where the catheters were inserted. You will need a ride home after the procedure because of the medicines or anesthesia you received.

Catheter ablation has some risks, including bleeding, infection, blood vessel damage, heart damage, arrhythmias, and blood clots. There also may be a very slight risk of cancer from radiation used during catheter ablation. Talk to your doctor and the technicians performing the test about whether you are or could be pregnant. If the procedure is not urgent, they may have you wait until after your pregnancy.

If it is urgent, the technicians will take extra steps to protect your baby during catheter ablation. Visit Cardiac ablation procedures and Cardiac conduction system for more information about this topic. Learn more about participating in a clinical trial.