Chest pain following catheter ablation

[cobbler5]

After a prolonged episode of AF and subsequent intermittent episodes, I underwent a catheter ablation 4 days ago. During the procedure I experienced extreme chest pain which I was able to verbalize to the electrophysiologist. Chest pain continued during initial hours of recovery. An electrocardiogram revealed no punctures or leaks, and I was sent home with directions to take ibuprophen for pain. Since then, the chest pain has continued with increasing shortness of breath. While I was anticipating some of the brief "flutters" I have experienced,the procedure literature I was given and EP's discharge instructions led me to believe the recovery time for pain, etc. would be 48 hours. Has anyone had a similar experience after an ablation and, if so, what was the outcome?

[Sweetwaterguy]

I had an ablation last week, also.  My chest pain was not extreme, but it was painful. I tend to have a fairly high tolerance to pain.  I was released the day following the procedure and had to return that day due to fainting, likely caused by dehydration.  I recieved an echo and a ct scan.  It was determined that I had an inflammation of the pericardium and some fluid build up on the heart.  I saw a respiritory theapist and was put on breathing exercises and an antibiotic because chest xrays showed a possible pneumonia developing.  My doctor was not alarmed and indicated my recovery was not quite normal, but OK--on the wrong side of a bell curve.  He had seen worse.  Now seven days after the procedure, I am feeling closer to normal, and any chest discomfort is gone.  I still have some residual cough, although that seemes to be clearing.  I am short on stamina, but expect that to end also.  
I hope this helps.  Good luck!

[Sweetwaterguy]

I just reread your concern.  I should mention that my experience was slightly different from yours in that I was under a general anesthetic.  My chest pain developed after the procedure.

[StephPT]

I, too, had some chest pain after my 4th ablation, and it scared me, because i had never experienced that before.  i found mine to be a bit worse on inspiration or with activity (i was told to "lay low" after my surgery but chose to flip my mattress instead), accompanied by some SOB.  even though my ECHO looked ok, the cardiologist in the ER suspected a focal pericarditis in the posterior wall of the left atrium (this can't be visualized by a regular ECHO, and i wasn't going to go through another TEE just for that), since this was where the ablation took place.

I can sympathize with you, too...i had chest pain during my procedure when they did the puncture to the left atrium.  NOT a fun experience, but i had to be awake, and i suspect you did, too.

If it is a pericarditis, it should get better each day.  If it doesn't, i would definitely seek treatment.

good luck, and i hope the A-fib demon stays away!

steph

[robby3701]

I had a catheter ablation on feb 10th and was in a lot of pain from the beginning of my recovery. My tachicardia has got worse. I was in the hospital all night on the 11th. I'm still in a lot of pain but my echo looks good so they sent me home with a lot of percicet for pain. They said it can take 3 weeks to get better. I hope it does.

[ireneo]

I'm sorry to hear you're having a rough time with recovery. Where are you having the pain - in the chest or in the groin where they put the catheters? I've had 3 ablations but no pain like you're describing. As for the healing process of the heart, it can take up to 3 months for the heart to settle down, not flip-flop and flutter.  

If you develop a fever or the pain worsens, be sure to be seen by your doctor or go to ER if need be.