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Complex Ablation a Guide for Patients and Families

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Complex Ablation a Guide for Patients and Families COMPLEX ABLATION A Guide for Patients and Families 40 RUSKIN STREET, OTTAWA ON K1Y 4W7 UOHI 82 (07/2015) T 613.761.5000 WWW.OTTAWAHEART.CA PLEASE BRING THIS BOOK WITH YOU TO THE HEART INSTITUTE Patient Name Please complete the following information: Contact Person (relative, friend) Name Phone Number (Home) Phone Number (Cell) Family Doctor Name Phone Number Pharmacy Name Phone Number Cardiac Electrophysiologist Name Phone Number Cardiologist Name (If you have one) Phone Number Other Name (Specify) Phone Number IMPORTANT If you are waiting for your cardiac electrophysiology procedure and you have questions about arrangements or preparations, please contact the Wait List Management Office at 613-761-4436. If you have already had your procedure and are experiencing any symptoms or concerns, please call your cardiac electrophysiologist. If you need to speak with someone during off-hours, the Nursing Coordinator can be reached at any time at 613-761-4708. In case of an emergency, call 911. Table of Contents Patient Responsibility Checklist .................................................... 1 The Heart’s Electrical System ........................................................ 3 Heart Arrhythmias ........................................................................... 4 Supraventricular Arrhythmias ...................................................................................................... 4 Types of Supraventricular Arrhythmias ....................................................................................... 4 Atrial Fibrillation ...................................................................................................................... 4 Atrial Flutter ............................................................................................................................. 4 Supraventricular Tachycardia ................................................................................................. 4 Ventricular Arrhythmias ............................................................................................................... 5 Ablation for Complex Heart Arrhythmias ..................................................................................... 5 Preparing for Complex Ablation ..................................................... 6 Diagnostic Imaging Tests ............................................................................................................ 6 Medication Changes ................................................................................................................... 6 Pre-Admission Unit (PAU) ........................................................................................................... 7 On the Day of Your Procedure ....................................................... 8 On Arrival .................................................................................................................................... 8 During Your Procedure ............................................................................................................... 8 For the Contact Person ............................................................................................................... 9 After Your Procedure .................................................................... 10 Discharge & Follow-Up Care After Your Complex Ablation ...................................................... 10 Discharge Checklist .................................................................................................................. 11 What to Expect at Home ............................................................... 12 Caring for Your Puncture Site ................................................................................................... 12 Bleeding .................................................................................................................................... 12 Activity ....................................................................................................................................... 13 Returning to Work ..................................................................................................................... 13 Driving ....................................................................................................................................... 13 Follow-Up After Your Atrial Fibrillation (AF) Ablation ................ 14 Initial Follow-Up Appointment ................................................................................................... 14 Event Monitor ............................................................................................................................ 14 My Medication List ........................................................................ 16 Informative Websites .................................................................... 17 © 2015 University of Ottawa Heart Institute This Patient Guide and its contents are the property of the University of Ottawa Heart Institute (UOHI). They may not be modified, sectioned, copied, reproduced or republished without prior explicit permission from UOHI. The content has been prepared for general information purposes only and is not intended to provide specific medical or professional advice. The authors of this Guide do not assume any liability or loss in connection with the information provided herein. The Heart Institute logo and swirl are trademarks of the University of Ottawa Heart Institute. All other trademarks and copyrighted materials are the property of their respective owners. For more information about customizing this guide for the particular needs of your institution, please contact the Department of Communications at 613-798-5555 x19058 or [email protected]. Patient Responsibility Checklist The following checklist will help you prepare for your admission. Before Your Admission: Fill out the medication list included in this booklet. Bring this with you, plus all of your medications in their original pharmacy containers. **Important Note** Before your complex ablation procedure, your doctor may change the dose of your anticoagulation medication or may start you on a new or different anticoagulation medication. Some of the heart medications you currently take may also be changed or discontinued. Before switching any of your medications, make sure you fully understand which medications must be changed and on what specific dates any changes need to be made. The Evening Before Your Booked Procedure: Between 4:00 and 8:00 p.m., expect a phone call from the Day Unit, telling you what time to come to the Heart Institute. If you are not contacted by 9:00 p.m., please call the Day Unit at 613-761-4770. On the Day of Your Admission: Take your usual medications with a small amount of water—unless you have been informed otherwise. Do not eat or drink anything from midnight onward the night before your procedure, unless you have been told otherwise. Remove all nail polish; do not wear any makeup. Make Sure You Bring the Following Items with You to the Heart Institute: Your health card All your medications—in their original pharmacy containers o Make sure you tell us about any allergies you have The name and phone number of your emergency contact person This book. It will be used after your procedure for reviewing discharge information. 1 Leave These Items at Home: All of your valuables (including money, jewelry, tablets, laptop computers). The Heart Institute is not responsible for any loss or damage to your personal belongings. Plan for Your Discharge: Make transportation arrangements. You cannot drive yourself home. For your first night home from the hospital, arrange for someone to stay overnight with you. If you are unable to keep the scheduled date for your Ablation procedure, please notify the Wait List Management Office as soon as possible at 613-761-4436. Sometimes there are sudden changes in scheduling that may result in your procedure being delayed. If this happens, we will let you know as soon as possible. Electrophysiologist Contact Numbers Dr. David Birnie 613-761-4705 Dr. Martin Green 613-761-4820 Dr. Darryl Davis 613-761-3654 Dr. Girish Nair 613-761-4914 Dr. Robert Lemery 613-761-4978 Dr. Calum Redpath 613-761-3654 Dr. Pablo Nery 613-761-4914 Dr. Mouhannad Sadek 613-737-8135 2 The Heart’s Electrical System Your heart is a muscle that works like a pump. The main job of your heart is to pump blood throughout your body. The heart is divided into a right and left side. Each side has an upper chamber (atrium), which collects blood returning to the heart, and a muscular lower chamber (ventricle), which pumps the blood away from the heart. The pumping of your heart is regulated by an electrical current or impulse, much like a spark plug in a car. The electrical impulse starts in the sinoatrial (SA) node, often called the body’s natural pacemaker, and then spreads throughout both atria, like ripples in a pond. This causes both atria to contract, which squeezes blood into the ventricles. The impulse then travels down to the atrioventricular (AV) node, which is like a wire that connects it to the ventricles. The AV node splits into two branches, allowing the electrical signal to spread evenly to both ventricles at the same time. This is what causes your heart to beat effectively. 3 Heart Arrhythmias Any disruption in the usual electrical pathways in your heart can cause an abnormality in your heart rhythm. This is called an arrhythmia. Supraventricular Arrhythmias
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