You will need to be aware of the potential for AF in the futureīleeding: It is rare to have severe bleeding from the puncture site once you are at home. This usually resolves over time without any other problems.

It is not uncommon to have a bruise at the groin that extends / spreads after the ablation.

Start with gentle exercise after 1 weeks – e.g.

Your flutter medications may be discontinued following the ablation or weaned over 2-3 months.

If you are uncertain about your medications, please ring the rooms for clarification

Continue your medications as instructed.

If you do not receive a date for an appointment within 8 weeks, please call the clinic and ask to speak to the secretary.

An appointment will be made for you to be seen in clinic about 2 months after the procedure.

People are usually discharged the next day. You are generally required to lay flat on your back for about 4 hours after your procedure. You’ll be watched closely in a recovery area, and depending on how you feel, you might need to rest in bed for a while. You will be admitted to the ward for observation overnight with rhythm monitoring. You may have a little device applying pressure at the puncture site for a few hours. You doctor will proceed to further ablation if required to prevent you having to return for a second procedure.Īt the end of your procedure, your doctor will remove the catheters and apply pressure, followed by a simple dressing. In some cases, additional unexpected rhythms become apparent. The catheter ablation procedure can take 1 hr or more in some cases. An ablation catheter is advanced into the right atrium that applies the ablation energy around the cavotricuspid isthmus (CTI) to terminate the atrial flutter circuit. A mapping catheter maybe advanced into the RA to make a 3-D model which identifies the structures of relevance.

Additional blood thinners are usually given to thin the blood further to prevent a stroke. If a clot is found, the procedure will have to be abandoned. With this we check for any clots in the heart prior to any ablation. A special ultrasound camera called a trans oesophageal echo (TOE) probe maybe advanced via your mouth into your oesophagus (gullet) that sits next to your heart. An X-ray machine guides the catheters to your heart. Four small tubes called sheaths are passed into the vein in the right groin through which catheters are inserted and gently passed up until they reach your heart. Local anaesthetic is administered at the groin which numbs the area. The anaesthetist will usually get you off to sleep (general anaesthesia). You will be transferred to the catheter laboratory and will have to lie on a narrow hard bed under the X-ray machine. Death because of this procedure is rare.Injury to the food pipe related to the ultrasound or temperature probe used during the procedure.Rare risks and complications (less than 1%) include: Damage to normal electrical system requiring a permanent pacemaker.In rare cases part of the clot may break off and go to the lungs called pulmonary embolus. Blood clot in the leg (DVT) causing pain and swelling.Uncommon risks and complications (1- 5%) include: Bruising can extend beyond the puncture site and can take a few weeks to improve in some cases. Bruising bleeding at the puncture site.They include but are not limited to the following.Ĭommon risks and complications (more than 5%) include:

What are the risks of having a flutter ablation? Please refer to the catheter ablation section for general information about the admission process and requirements. More than 50% of people with atrial flutter develop AF at some stage. <5-10% may need to have this procedure again. Catheter ablation for atrial flutter is an effective treatment.

Atrial flutter ablation location