Got a call this afternoon booking me in for an Ablation (Brighton hospital). It’s next Wednesday and I asked if there would be a pre op but told no. Is this usual? Is there anything I should be aware of that they would normally go through in a pre op? For other non heart related ops I have always been through the whole pre op thing so surprised not this time.
I have to be there at 1.00pm and told op will be around 2 hours but I need to stay with them afterwards for 7 to 8 hours. At best that would be 10 or 11pm discharge. Is that normal or do they keep you in? Think I’d prefer to stay in if it’s that late especially as staying at friends afterwards and not wanting to inconvenience them too much but person booking op was adamant they would discharge me.
Any tips or other advice to keep me calm pre and post op most welcome.
Thanks
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As they are doing your ablation in the afternoon, they will probably do the pre op when you arrive. Being a large hospital any blood test results are likely to be back quickly. They will talk you through all that may happen during the procedure and get you to sign a consent form.
I was always kept in hospital overnight and I have a feeling you will be too. One of my ablations took 6hrs, though I was told it would be less. It depends how many areas they find in your heart that need ablating. I'm guessing you'll go down to the cath lab between 2.30-3.30pm.
Wishing you a successful outcome, we'll be waiting to hear how it all went.
Hello Irene, I've had 3 of my 4 ablations at Brighton hospital, the latest 15 months ago.
My ablation was first thing in the morning ...about 5 hours long and I was collected about 7pm. I believe that Brighton do like to have same day discharge these days. All my other ablations involved an overnight stay, the previous one being in 2013 though.
I can say that they run quite a tight ship in Brighton and you will be very well looked after. The staff are lovely. I even had a heated mattress in the cath lab!
Is it a cryo ablation that you are having and who is your EP?
Our hospital view this as a ‘procedure’ rather than an operation and it’s done as a day patient. I was taken in am, bloods done and procedure walked through with relevant consent forms then into catheter lab mid am. Home at 9pm. You will need to lie completely flat for a few hours when you come out for your vein incision in your groin used to insert the catheter to heal over. If all is good there then I expect you’ll be sent home where you can rest better.
Hi Scott1313, I'm sorry to hear about your experience. Could you please tell me more about what happened to you? Did you previously have any issues with your blood pressure? When did this problem start and what did the doctors do? What type of ablation was it?
I had high blood pressure before for years I’m type 2 diabetic in July I developed Svt my heart rate would race to 188 . Had ablation Supraventricular tachycardia done on my heart and after that procedure I am unable to walk without passing out
It you like I’ll give a email write me their and I will you my real email or phone number
Hi again, it's best to wait for the doctors to complete their investigations. Also, you are still within the 3 months blanking period for ablations so your condition may improve. Please keep us updated on your progress. Good luck.
Sent home for 2 week passed out once daily until home care came in and saw me on the floor and called for a ambulance
radio frequency
I still can’t stay on my feet or walk much before I pass out 2 to 3 minutes maxs my chest get extremely painful ( EKG done several times ) they say everything is good
67/50 was one of the lowest i got at home
Lowest at the hospital 55/42
The procedure is painless was given fentanyl while they were doing the ablation
they are calling it orthostatic hypertension very little they can do I’m being told for low blood pressure. It was done at Heart institute in Ottawa. But they are not saying what causing it
Been through just about any test you can imagine
High bp before ablation but I had svts
Now no more svts but I can’t stand or walk for long extremely low now
Unfortunately Postural Orthostatic Hypotension is a known possible complication of Radio Frequency ablation. You are certainly not the first person who has experienced this problem. Other people on this forum have reported this too. Your autonomic nervous system (ANS) has been compromised. I think people awaiting RF ablation need to be made aware of this potentially life changing complication. RF ablation is not very selective and there can be collateral damage to healthy heart tissue, sensitive nerve endings etc. I hope that the specialist in Montreal can do something to help you. Please let us know if they can. Best wishes.
Doctor was just here sending me home tomorrow.Her only answer was give it time and if no improvement another doctor has a clinic which I’ll have appointment to go to in December.She not even considering it has anything to do with the ablation.Thing is I’m all alone no family and just moved to Ottawa no real friends so needless to say I’m terrified and very upset and depressed.I have lost my job spent a lot of my retirement money been off for 7 months
Thanks for the advice all I can say people do your homework and research what is happening now to me is a lot than the svts I could function before and now I can’t
hiya, I agree with everything jeanjeannie said. She is so so helpful, helped me in the past.
I was kept in over night. Everything went fine. That was over two years ago and everything worked! Come off all my tablets too… bonus!
By the way I am the biggest wimp of all. Cry when I have to have a tooth clean at the dentist😂🤣😂so just remember you are in safe hands and they will be very kind I am sure.
Thank you for posting your message, I am sure there will be many messages of support and sharing of personal experiences by the members of the Forum. If you would like any advice or information, you will find a full explanation outlining the Catheter Ablation in our 'Treatment Options for Atrial Fibrillation' or view some of the helpful videos on the AF Association webpage: heartrhythmalliance.org/afa...
Good luck - try not to worry too much 😊. I am almost 5 weeks post 2nd ablation - we are all nervous - my tips eat good food & drink loads water up to cut off time, take good book to lose your mind in whilst waiting, meditate if you do or find good breath work apps & take big breathes when nervous & exhale well. Every ablation is different but remember, if is means a good result for however long it lasts it’s worth it 😊. If you have visitors get them bring in nice cold drinks & even tasty home cooked food! And most importantly REST. Even when you feel better still REST! You’ve had loads lovel comments - take all the positives and look forward to whatever the future holds 😀
Hi, you need to find out about if there are any meds to stop pre ablation, blood thinners particularly. Some medics prefer you to stop some days before and others don't. So what's your ablation person want. Ablations used to be overnight stay, but cos of covid etc they now try to get you in and out in a day. But given your times I'd have thought you will find no medic available to sign your release etc so they will keep you in. My experience from 3 ablations is that after its done the medics disappear and nurses cannot take responsibility for your release. Good luck
The only preop that I have had is usually when they do my blood. Before my cardioversion they did an echo and when it was clear they decided to go ahead the same day with a cardioversion. In the past two years they have also been doing Covid testing and I think they’re beginning to ease up on that. They did not test me for that before my procedure last week
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