cardiac ablation good experience

[Lexi72]

hi everyone, I have just had my cardiac catheter ablation for my ventricular ectopic beats ( I have a very high ectopic load) It has gone well and I was really well looked after by the team . In case anyone is waiting for their ablation thought it might be helpful to share my experience. In my case it all worked like a well oiled machine from arrival to the pre op ward( blood tests. ECG, blood pressure; compression stockings questions to make sure had not eaten and scary consent form to sign when you meet the doctor who will perform the procedure.) You then go into the cath lab with lots of screens and imaging equipment and a team of about 8 doctors and nurses looking after you. My ectopics then decided to disappear ( I usually have tons of them) and the team had to stress my heart with hard maths questions and then adrenaline which worked (the maths did not). My heart was then monitored to identify the beats while I was awake before inserting the catheter sheath with local anaesthetic which hurt no more than a canula. You can feel the catheter sheath going in but it does not hurt. Once my ectopics were mapped on a big screen the doctors zapped the area. This did hurt but was given pain killer intravenously and mild sedation which made it manageable. I was then taken into post recovery and monitored for 3to 4 hours and released last night. If the ablation has worked (which the doctors think it has) I am hoping it will improve my heart function and delay the date when I need my valve replaced ( I have a bicuspid valve with regurgitation) which I am not looking forward to. I think my ablation was relatively simple and for atrial fib it is more common to put you under with general. I also know you can get complications if you are unlucky but my experience was very good with lots of fantastic NHS staff all working really hard to keep me safe . I felt really cared for . If you are waiting for an ablation I hope that yours goes as well as mine best wishes 🙂

[Jalia]

That all sounds good. Hope it all continues well for you. As far as ablation for AF goes, it is more usual to have it performed under sedation these days.

[Lexi72 in reply to Jalia]

Thank you that is interesting. Looking at the discharge notes there may have been some sedation as well through the cannula drug mix at the time of the actual ablation after the mapping process was complete but the doctors did not want to knock me out until then as they explained it might suppress the ventricular beats which were hiding. But I was awake throughout and it really was Ok and I am a complete coward with operations. Best wishes