If your doctor has diagnosed you with atrial fibrillation, they may recommend you undergo a catheter ablation procedure. In certain patients, catheter ablation is an effective treatment for atrial fibrillation. This procedure is not appropriate for everyone and your doctor will have a detailed discussion with you at your clinic appointment. The success of the procedure depends on a number of factors, and second and third procedures are sometimes needed.
How it works
Atrial fibrillation is a complex disease. For the majority of patients, atrial fibrillation is the scrambling of normal electrical signals by turbulence 'driven’ from the left atrium in an upper chamber where the veins from the lungs enter the heart. We use targeted ablation techniques to produce small scars in the muscle, preventing turbulent electrical signals from crossing this chamber. This does not damage the function of the chamber, which acts as a reservoir for the heart. We know that isolating the veins is effective in around 60 to 70 per cent of patients. For some patients, it is not enough and other areas are targeted. Please ask your specialist about this.
What to expect
- You will begin to take blood thinners such as Warfarin (Coumadin) or Dabigatran (Pradax) for at least one month before the procedure. This reduces the risk of blood clots in your heart. If you cannot take blood thinners you must tell your specialist immediately.
- An appointment will be made to discuss the type of anesthesia care you will receive.
- A CT scan may be ordered so your health-care team can look at the structure of your heart.
- A transesophageal echocardiogram will be performed during or the day before your procedure to ensure there are no blood clots in your heart.
- On the day of the exam, you will be directed to the Admitting department before moving to the catheterization (cath) laboratory (lab). A nurse will greet you and identify you as the correct person to undergo the procedure.
- The nurse may insert a urinary catheter and place an intravenous (IV) line into a vein. You will meet the team and be asked to sign a consent form to confirm you would like the procedure to go ahead. At this time you can speak to your doctor and ask any questions you may have.
- You will then be moved on a stretcher to the electrophysiology (EP) lab within the cath lab suite. The procedure is usually performed with a general anaesthetic.
- The procedure will take between three to four hours to complete. You will recover in the cath lab and go home the same day. Before you go home, your care team will talk to you about your medications.
- You will need someone to drive you home and be with you overnight.
