Ablation complications/results

[gstanfo]

I am a 47 yr-old male in good condition except for A-Fib. (no blockages, strong beat) and After trying meds for 2-1/2 years to control my A-Fib, and three cardioversions along the way, I had an RF ablation done two weeks ago, and have a couple of comments/questions: I had the procedure (6 hours) on a Monday and went home Tuesday afternoon. Wednesday morning, my mid-section was bloated, and I discovered I had gained 10 pounds. I had a fever, also, which I had been warned would probably happen, but no one had said anything about fluid, nor had I read anything about it being a possible complication. After spending a sleepless night sitting up in a chair, I was prescribed Lasix 20 mg which I had never taken before. I took it for two days before it started to work. When it did, I had another sleepless night, after which I spent the next two days rehydrating, having not only lost the ten lbs I picked up after the ablation, but 10 more besides that. I had been in sinus rhythm until the dehydration occurred, but sometime during that event, I went back into A-Fib and have been in it for the last week. As you can imagine, I am very frustrated right now that I went through the ablation and wind up back in A-Fib a week later. Is the fluid build-up common? Could the episode with Lasix have caused my current A-Fib? My doctor told me I might experience some flutter while my heart heals (he made several "burns"), but I figured he meant isolated episodes, not full-time A-Fib. Thanks

[Michael J. McWilliams, M.D.]

Your doctor probably used an irrigated tip catheter that pumps fluid as it ablates.  It is not uncommon for people to get 2-3 liters of fluid during ablation -- that is up to 6 lbs of fluid.  some doctors give lasix after all ablations for this reason.

fevers are not normal after ablations.  it may or may not be related to the procedure.  it is worth mentioning to your doctor.

if you are back in atrial fib, this is also worth mentioning to your doctor.  they may want to cardiovert you back to normal rhythm and consider an anti arrhythmic drug until the scarring heals.  it is not possible to say whether dehydration contributed to the recurrence of  your atrial fib.

i hope this helps.

[Sweetwaterguy]

I can't address all of your issue, but I can share a little of my experience.   At the end of my ablation I was given injectable lasix in the hospital.  The doctor told me they wanted their patients to get the fluid off fast.  Apparently they use fluid to cool the instrument during the procedure.   I had a catheter placed in my urethea to drain the fluid, and I was amazed at how much urine I produced.  I filled a couple of bags.  
   After my overnight stay, I was released.  Although my wife was with me, I felt well enough to drive myself home--250 miles.  However, after stopping for lunch, I passed out in a restaurant and was taken by ambulance to the local hospital and transported from there to the hospital where I had the procedure.  After extensive evaluation, the only problem they found was I was dehydrated from getting too much fluid off.  
   I can assume from that experience that dehydration can cause its own set of issues, and perhaps that is what you are dealing with.  My recovery was very rapid and since have had no problems.  Hopefully you will experience the "cure" that you are hoping for.  
Best of luck to you.