Catheter Ablation

What is Catheter Ablation?

Catheter Ablation is also known as Cardiac Catheter Ablation is a procedure done by a doctor to treat abnormal or irregular heart rhythm by inserting a catheter into your blood vessels going into the heart to send energy to the specific part where an abnormal heart rhythm is found.

What should the patient do before getting this treatment?

The doctor will ask the patient to take a series of screening tests to be able to determine if your body is ready to undergo this kind of procedure. These tests include:

• Blood test

• Echocardiogram

• X-ray of the chest

• Chest CT Scan or Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) 

Aside from the series of tests, the doctor will advise you the following:

1. Do not take any drinks or foods the night before the procedure to prepare your body because anesthesia will be given. Having a full stomach is not advisable when undergoing any procedures that need anesthesia because the patient might vomit and the risk of the fluids going into the lungs is likely to happen

2. Avoid medications that may increase the risk of bleeding during this procedure such as aspirin and warfarin. If you are taking blood thinner medicines like warfarin the doctor might advise the patient to stop taking it for a few days before the procedure. The doctor will monitor everything, especially your clotting time when you are taking those kinds of medications.

3. Days before the procedure it is best for the patient to prepare himself or herself by eating healthily, getting enough rest, not drinking alcohol and smoking, and doing exercises that are not harmful to you or that are only advised to you by a healthcare professional. 

How is it done?

1. An anesthesiologist will interview the patient for medical history.

2. Anesthesia will be given.

3. While lying down on the surgical table, inspection and cleaning of the groin will be done. Shaving might be considered if the area of insertion has hair.

4. The electrocardiogram will be used for monitoring and guiding the doctor during the procedure to see everything upon inserting the catheter. The electrodes will be attached to the patient’s chest and back.

5. The doctor will then start the procedure by inserting the catheter into the blood vessel in the groin going into the heart.

6. The doctor will use the end part of the catheter to remove the tissue that’s causing the irregular rhythm of the heart which will leave a scar that will help maintain the heart’s rhythm.

7. After that, the heart’s electrical impulses and blood flow will be observed and is expected to be normal. 

What happens after the procedure?

After the procedure, the patient will be advised to stay in the hospital for rest and further observation. If everything goes well, the doctor will then discharge the patient and give out instructions on what to expect for the next few days while recovering and what to do at home.

What to expect?

1. The scar tissue will take a few days or weeks to develop which is why you can expect that you will still have irregular heartbeats until the scar tissue forms giving you a normal heartbeat.

2. Your doctor may give you several medications such as blood thinners, anti-inflammatory drugs, and antacids.

3. You may feel sore or have a little discomfort while recovering.

4. You may feel tired and sleepier than usual.

5. In some cases, the procedure might need to be repeated in order for it to fully work, which is why it is important that your doctor will regularly check up on the patient after the procedure to see further the results if you need anything.

What to do at home?

• Proceed on having a healthy lifestyle

• Clean the surgical wound all the time and avoid using any creams or lotions in the wound

• Avoid intense exercises 

• Get all the rest that you need to fully recover

• When taking a shower, avoid hot water for a few days

Catheter ablation is available in Singapore and is known to offer good services for these kinds of treatments. If you feel like you are experiencing Arrhythmia, consult the nearest cardiologist in any heart clinic in Singapore near you.