Ablation Procedure

[loveanimal]

I am due for a catheter ablation in June, do i have a choice of sedation or anesthetic?

Can i exercise as normal after or do ivhave to rest?

[MichaelJH Heart Star]

Hello and welcome to the forum! The usual procedure is a local anesthetic plus sedation. Sedation can be quite heavy and nearly equivalent to a general anesthesic. You will have to take it easy afterwards to avoid the area where the catheter was inserted bleeding (potentially heavily). In addition you will not be able to drive for a period. Your team will advise you in these aspects as the extent of treatment will also affect recovery. I imagine someone who has had the procedure will be along later or tomorrow.

Thus BHF article gives you some background:-

bhf.org.uk/informationsuppo...

[IanMK]

I had one last June and a second one a fortnight ago. Choice of sedation or GA is usually down to the EP. I had GA for both. If you read other comments here most people having sedation rarely remember much.

Be prepared for extensive bruising for a good while afterwards at the femoral artery catheter site, although I had none at all second time around.

It is recommended that you rest as much as possible for the first week to allow the femoral artery catheter site to heal fully and begin very careful exercise in the second week.

These 2 fact sheets on preparing for and recovering from an ablation are very informative :

heartrhythmalliance.org/res...

heartrhythmalliance.org/res...

[heatherleon in reply to IanMK]

Thank you so much, I am having my ablation on the 12th of August and this has helped me immensely, the fact sheets are so helpful, once again thank you x

[IanMK in reply to heatherleon]

Don’t worry, you’ll be fine. Just follow the advice.

My ablations were for an arrhythmia which had led to dilated cardiomyopathy and heart failure rather than AF. The 2nd ablation compromised my AV node, which was a known risk, so I have a CRT device now too. I’m feeling great and very active, just waiting to see my cardiologist again 6 months post-procedure and hoping I can stop my meds.

[heatherleon in reply to IanMK]

Thank you, my ablation is for Paroxysmal atrial tachycardia. Glad to hear that you are feeling well now and active, that is what I miss most, my energy. What meds are you on? I'm on Flecainide, they tried me on a beta blocker but as I have low blood pressure they made me worse so have been on Flecainide for about three months now but was hoping that I won't need to take them after the ablation.

[IanMK in reply to heatherleon]

Sorry, I assumed AF.

I’m on Bisoprolol and Ramipril. I’m lucky that I haven’t had problems with any of my meds.

[OrdinaryGuy]

I agree with all the comments made in he other two replies so far. I had a CA on 29/3 and am recovering well. Once sedated I do not remember anything about the actual procedure itself until I woke up in the ward bed where I had to rest for a few hours. I worried unnecessarily about the bruising that appeared from thigh to knee but after two weeks it all went - so this is normal I believe. Make sure you take all the advice of the Cardiologist and Special Nursing Staff. Also check with Cardiologist whether to continue taking your medication to same or reduced dosage for a while. There are different circumstances for each of us who have the CA Procedure and none of us are medical experts so be careful how you use our comments/advice. Best wishes.

[Alison1960]

I wS heVh sedated but still talking during my ablation. Had to rest a few hours before being discharged and told to rest. What I wasn’t prepared for was the fatigue for the next week it do - I was absolutely exhausted for days.

[Prada47]

Hello

I have just had a Holter which showed about 8% of my heart beats are Ectopic. The young Cardiologist said it would probably mean an Ablation to try to block them. Just got a letter from the Main Man saying he has requested further Stress MRI had one about 18 months ago. Question is anyone know if a Stress MRI can be used instead of an EP study to identify the area which requires Ablation.

[Padayn01 in reply to Prada47]

Can i just ask about your Ectopic Beats did they come on more when you were in a certain posture? i get them every time i lean back in my chair very weird

[Prada47 in reply to Padayn01]

HiPayday

My ectopic beats just occur they come from no where then can be just a few, or lots and lots. They do cause me to be breathless and are uncomfortable !! I do know they are not going to kill me !!! well for now mmmmmm

regards

[Padayn01 in reply to Prada47]

are the ectopic beats ok now?

[Prada47 in reply to Padayn01]

No they account for almost 10 % of my heart beats !!! which is classed as High Burden

Next Stress MRI 21st June to see what to do next. My Cardiologist says they need to be fixed, probably by Ablation or last resort Pacemaker, which will take over the heart rate function !!! sounds a little severe but I do have them pretty bad. I think the major concern is they trigger a pause in my heart beat for 2 or 3 seconds which is OK when sleeping but could be a problem during the day !!

regards

[Padayn01 in reply to Prada47]

Please let me know how you get on I’m due for my ablation in August for my SVT

[MydogBrandy]

I had GA. great, woke up and all done. Massive bruise from groin to knee but not troublesome. Lying still for hours afterwards is the worse bit. Remember to rest rest rest for a few weeks after. Good luck x