This leaflet contains important advice about what to do when you get home after your ablation or electrophysiology study.
Before you leave the ward
On leaving the ward, please check you have the following:
- A preliminary discharge letter
A detailed letter will be sent to your GP. If you are seeing your GP or having problems, you can show this to them in the interim. - Medication
If your medication has been changed, the ward staff will inform you. Other medication you need will be provided. If you have any questions, please ask the ward staff before you go home. If you have been prescribed anticoagulants (drugs that thin the blood), please do not stop them without speaking to a doctor.
Follow-up
Your doctor will inform you of the plans for your follow-up, if needed. We will generally see you for a follow-up appointment in the outpatient clinic or by telephone within three months of your ablation. You should receive this appointment in the post. If you do not receive an appointment within eight weeks, please contact the arrhythmia nurses on the telephone numbers provided at the end of this leaflet.
What to do when you get home
When you go home, rest and allow yourself some time to recover. Feeling tired and not quite yourself is not unusual after an ablation. How long it takes to recover depends on the type of ablation you have had done. For an atrial fibrillation ablation we usually advise an average of a week to recover. You may need less time to recover after other types of ablation.
You may have some chest discomfort after the procedure. This should settle after a few days. Taking simple painkillers such as paracetamol will help.
You can shower the next day after your ablation, but avoid having a bath or immersing your legs in water for 2-3 days after to avoid infection.
Sedation/general anaesthetic
You may have received sedation or a general anaesthetic for your procedure. If you have been given sedation, we would advise you not to drink alcohol, make any legal decisions or sign anything important, for at least 24 hours after your procedure.
Puncture site care
The plaster or dressing at the top of the leg can be removed the day after your procedure. There is no need to replace it.
It is common to develop bruising around the puncture site. Any swelling the same size as a pea is normal. Please contact ward L14 or the arrhythmia nurses for advice if there is a large swelling, severe pain or bleeding. If you experience any numbness in your feet/toes/leg/arm/fingers (depending on where your puncture site is) please contact the arrhythmia nurses or ward L14 for advice. Contact details for the arrhythmia nurses and ward L14 are provided at the end of this leaflet.
It is rare to have severe bleeding from the puncture site once you have gone home. If this does happen, lie flat and apply pressure with your fingers to the site for 10 minutes. If the bleeding doesn’t stop, call 999.
Palpitations
You may experience fluttering after the procedure. This doesn’t mean your ablation hasn’t worked. It may take two months for everything to settle down and heal. Palpitations in this time are normal.
If you have a recurrence of your palpitations that doesn’t go away, or makes you feel unwell, please contact the arrhythmia nurses or ward L14 for advice.
If you feel very unwell, attend your local A&E for assessment. If you have an electrocardiograph (ECG) done, please ask the hospital to send it to the Arrhythmia Nurses at the email address: [email protected]
Driving
DVLA rules state that you must not drive for two days after your ablation. If you have a HGV/lorry licence, please discuss this with your Consultant.
Return to work
You should avoid any heavy physical work for at least one week after your ablation. If you have a physically demanding job, we would advise you to take at least a week off work. Ask your Consultant for advice if you are unsure.
Exercise
In the first week following your ablation you should avoid any heavy lifting, pushing/pulling or vigorous exercise. Gentle walking and stairs are fine. After the first week, you can begin to return to exercise, but start gently and listen to your body.
Complications
If you feel unwell after your ablation/electrophysiology study, please contact the arrhythmia nurses or ward L14 for advice. If you feel very unwell please dial 999 or attend your local A&E for assessment.
How to contact us
We hope you have found this information leaflet helpful. If you do have any questions or concerns following your procedure, do contact us on the numbers below.
