

The procedure may be performed under local anaesthetic with sedative medication or occasionally under full general anaesthetic. Your groin area and possibly your neck will be washed with an antiseptic cleansing liquid and you will be covered with sterile sheets leaving these areas exposed. The oxygen level of your blood will also be measured during the EP study and a small plastic device will be fitted on your finger for this purpose. You will also have a blood-pressure cuff attached to your arm that will automatically inflate at various times throughout the procedure. You will also be given further sedation if and as required. This is needed as a reliable way to give you medications during the study without further injections. These patches may momentarily feel cool on your skin.Ī nurse or doctor will insert an intravenous line usually into the back of your hand. Many ECG monitoring electrodes will be attached to your chest area and patches to your chest and back. The staff in the lab will all be dressed in hospital theatre clothes. The EP lab has a patient table, X-Ray tube, ECG monitors and various equipment. Once in the Electrophysiology Laboratory (EP lab) you will be given a light sedative and your groin will be shaved. Prior to the procedure you will require an ECG. You will be required to fast for at least six hours before the study. You will usually be admitted to hospital on the day of your procedure. The risk of the flutter returning at some time in the future is approximately 5%. This procedure carries a success rate of approximately 95% for curing the atrial flutter. At your doctors’ discretion this may either be aspirin or warfarin. Because of the risk that atrial flutter may return with the above treatments, most patients with atrial flutter will require blood-thinning medication to prevent blood clots forming. In addition, most patients will also require medicine to try to prevent the flutter coming back.īlood Thinning medication. With this approach the possibility of the flutter returning remains present (approximately 50% of patients will have another episode of atrial flutter over the next year). You receive a short general anaesthetic and the shock reverts the rhythm to normal in almost all cases. When the heart is in flutter it can be reverted to the normal rhythm with a “shock on the chest”. If you elect to take medication, your doctor will discuss the different options and the possible side effects of these medications.ĭC Shock. In others however, the medications are ineffective and may produce side effects.

In some people these medications can be very effective. Atrial flutter can be treated with medication.
