Patients are hospitalized 3 to 6 days depending on the type of ablation required. Typically, they return to the normal care unit after ablation and are ambulatory 12 to 24 hours later. They are monitored by telemetry during the next days, when any recurrence of arrhythmia is most likely to occur. The likelihood of recurrence decreases over the next month.

 

The patients are usually admitted on Monday and can leave the hospital for the week-end, if there is no complication. They may return back home at that time or stay in the region for the week-end and return the following Monday for outpatient evaluation, which could result in rehospitalization if necessary. This will be determined with your physician during the days following the ablation.

 

The occurrence of complications may increase the length of hospitalization and therefore the cost. In our experience, this is observed in 2.5% of patients.

 

 

In the absence of complications, patients can return home and resume normal activities thereafter. Anticoagulants are recommended for at least 1-3 months after ablation and can then be interrupted in the absence of AF and other risk factors. Antiarrhythmic mediations may be recommended for 1 – 3 months after ablation in persistent forms of AF to enable the atrium to recover (process called “remodeling”). These points will be clearly mentioned in the letter for your referring physician.