Visual aura following cryoablation

[NorthLeedsJohnny]

Hi all.

A week ago I had a cryoablation for atrial flutter. It was a part of a clinical trial, to see if isolating the pulmonary veins in the left atrium is preferable to the more common right atrium treatment. It involved a transseptal puncture.

After the procedure, the electrophysiologist said that all had gone well.

As part of the trial, I have also had a loop recorder implanted in my upper left chest, with appropriate monitoring equipment.

On the day following the procedure, while still in hospital, I experienced visual auras, similar to those with migraine. Flashing images, seen in either eye and also when both eyes were closed. They would start quite small, almost undiscernable, just of centre in my visual field. They would last around 30 minutes, during which time they would slowly expand to the edge of my field of vision and then dissappear. The patterns could be on the left or right of my visual field but not both together.

I experienced the aura at around 1 am and 7 am. A doctor saw me after both occasions and did basic neurological tests, all of which were OK. I was told that I may have had a reaction to the contrast dye used during the ablation. Drinking plenty of water should flush it out of my system.

The following day, back at home, they happened another 3 times, several hours apart, then settled down.

Unfortunately, this afternoon, after a gap of 6 days I've had another episode of exactly the same sort.

Has anyone else had a similar experience please?

[BobD Volunteer]

As we explain in our fact sheet on Recovering from Ablation these are very common post ablation and are apparently caused by the transpetal puncture. They usually fade after a couple of weeks. What you describee as your ablation is common as an ablation for atrial fibrillation by the way. Normal flutter ablations done in right atrium so no need for transpetal puncture. .

[NorthLeedsJohnny in reply to BobD]

Thanks for that. Reassuring! I realise that the procedure I had is more usual for AF. The clinical trial of which I'm a part, is looking at whether the approach adopted for me is more effective in dealing with AFL overall, given that 50% of AFL patients with have a regular RF ablation, then develop AF.

[Buffafly in reply to NorthLeedsJohnny]

I suspect they don't warn you about it because you ought to have a neurological assessment for those symptoms and if you dismiss it as 'normal' a stroke could be missed.

[NorthLeedsJohnny in reply to Buffafly]

Thanks for that. I haven't had a problem since yesterday. I'll see how it goes fir the rest of the week and, if necessary, see the GP next week. I'll keep the trial stuff informed too.

[mikeymike7 in reply to NorthLeedsJohnny]

I get migraines and these are characterised by flashing black and white arcs. After my cryoablation I had a few weeks of flashing shapes in glorious technicolor and then they were gone!

[Ellembee]

I have read that this is not uncommon after the procedure.

[NorthLeedsJohnny in reply to Ellembee]

Thanks. So I now understand!

[sidbinks]

no i have not...sorry you are having this experience...follow up with a neurologist

after 2 years, my a-fib has returned, sorry to say...i am now on flecinide to control it and it is perfectly controlled but wonder if i should have another ablation so i can go off the medication...

[D194]

I get these same auras. Mine have no relation to any medical procedure. They say that they are migraines but if I do get a headache it is very mild. I can be free of them even for a year but sometimes I get them almost every day and even a couple of times a day. I become disorientated and muddled up and cannot continue with anything I am doing. They last for around 20 minutes. I believe that they are affected by bright lights, especially the sun through trees during a car ride and I also do believe that they multiply during stress

[NorthLeedsJohnny in reply to D194]

Thanks for that. I think, given my circumstances, it's likely to be due to the transseptal puncture. Time will tell.

[D194]

Yes, medical procedures can change things. I had normal blood pressure until I had surgery on my shoulder and since then, in fact immediately afterwards my bp went soaring and dangerously high and I am on strong meds ever since