What to bring into the hospital on the day of your procedure.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\nThe radiofrequency ablation<\/h3>\n
Before the procedure commences, you will receive a sedative medication through an intravenous drip. Once this has taken effect, small flexible catheters will be inserted into the vein or artery in your right groin and using fluoroscopy (X-ray) the electrophysiologist will guide a plastic wire into your heart chambers. Different parts of your heart will be tested to try and provoke the irregular heart rhythm so your doctor can pinpoint the source of the abnormal electrical signals.<\/p>\n
Once identified, the targeted heart tissue responsible for your arrhythmia will be treated using radiofrequency energy or cryoablation. This creates scar tissue that is no longer able to conduct an electrical impulse, therefore preventing the abnormal rhythm.<\/p>\n
Throughout the procedure, you will be connected to many ECG monitoring electrodes and other equipment so we can closely monitor your heart rate and rhythm, blood pressure and oxygen levels. At the end, your doctor will attempt to provoke the irregular rhythm to determine if the procedure has worked. If the arrhythmia persists, they will use additional radiofrequency energy.<\/p>\n
The length of the procedure varies, depending on factors like the type of arrhythmia, but typically lasts between one and two hours.<\/p>\n
Post-procedure aftercare and recovery<\/h3>\n
Following the procedure, you will be taken to a recovery area to wait for the sedative medication to wear off. During this time, you will:<\/p>\n
\n- Need to stay in bed for several hours, lying on your back with your legs straight.<\/li>\n
- Have your heart rate and blood pressure closely observed.<\/li>\n
- Be monitored for signs of bleeding from the catheter site.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Most patients are able to go home after several hours, however some will need to stay in hospital overnight. Either way, you will be provided with post-operative instructions to follow to ensure your recovery. This will include no heavy lifting or exercise for a time, take aspirin (blood thinner) to prevent blood clots and information about any other medications that may be required.<\/p>\n
Risks and complications<\/h2>\n
Any invasive procedure carries certain risks and potential complications. With radiofrequency cardiac procedures these include:<\/p>\n
\n- Issues associated with the insertion of the catheters through blood vessels, such as bleeding, infection, blood clot formation, obstruction of blood flow, or injury to the blood vessels.<\/li>\n
- Injury to the heart muscle or heart wall, such as perforation (cardiac tamponade) or damage to a valve.<\/li>\n
- Risk of blood clots travelling to your lungs or brain.<\/li>\n
- Heart block, where the electrical impulse can\u2019t travel from the heart’s upper to lower part. Usually this resolves, however if it doesn\u2019t you may require a permanent pacemaker during the procedure (this is rare, occurring in 0.1% of cases, but a little more common in arrhythmias near the AV node).<\/li>\n
- Radiation exposure, although this is very limited.<\/li>\n
- Mortality occurs in less than 0.1% of all cases.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Your cardiologist will discuss these in depth with you prior to your procedure.<\/p>\n
Dedicated cardiac ablation specialists<\/h2>\n
At Melbourne Heart Care, our dedicated cardiac rhythm management team<\/a> brings extensive expertise to the diagnosis and management of abnormal rhythm disorders. We offer personalised care, customised to individual needs with an emphasis on collaborative efforts with other professionals. We are committed to providing compassionate and empathetic care, in a cutting-edge facility to help you every step of the way.<\/p>\n\t\t