Overview
Follow-up after cardiac ablation for an irregular heart rhythm
This information is for people using cardiac services at:
Harefield Hospital
Royal Brompton Hospital
St Thomas' Hospital
It is about your follow-up care after having a cardiac ablation procedure to treat an irregular heart rhythm (atrial fibrillation).
We are confident that your condition is now stable and that you can manage it yourself at this time. For this reason, we are discharging you from the service.
If your condition changes, you can start (initiate) a programme of follow-up care by contacting us. This is called patient-initiated follow-up (PIFU).
About the PIFU programme
The PIFU programme allows you to arrange follow-up care with your team for a set time after you have been discharged.
Instead of giving you routine follow-up appointments that you might not need, we are asking you to contact the team directly. You can then arrange the follow-up appointments if and when you need them.
You can book a follow-up appointment at any time during the period set by the PIFU programme.
We have more information about patient-initiated follow-up (PIFU) appointments.
When to contact the service
After being discharged from our service, you can arrange follow-up appointments for up to 12 months after your heart procedure.
Please contact us if you:
- have an irregular heart rhythm (atrial fibrillation) again, for a prolonged period (several days)
- get a lot of symptoms during episodes of atrial fibrillation (which can include feeling breathless and dizzy or faint) and these episodes last more than a few minutes
- have any concerns about wound healing
How to book a follow-up appointment
To book a follow-up appointment, please contact the service. We are committed to being easy to contact when you need us.
A member of our team will:
- assess your condition
- make an appointment for you, as needed
Getting an appointment after 12 months
If more than 12 months have passed since your heart procedure, a GP will need to refer you to our service again. This is outside the time set by the PIFU programme.
Getting medical care at other times
If you ever feel unwell with a different condition, you will need to make an appointment with a GP.
If you need urgent medical help at any time, visit NHS 111 online, call 111 or go to your nearest emergency department (A&E).
Call 999 or go to A&E now if you have:
- severe chest pain (squeezing or tightness in the chest, which spreads to the left arm)
- severe shortness of breath and dizziness or fainting
- continuous bleeding from your groin wound site
- slurred speech
- weakness or numbness in your arm or leg
- a drooping face and eyesight problems
- a high temperature or chills with shivering
Resource number: 5491/VER1
Last reviewed: May 2024
Next review due: May 2027
A list of sources is available on request.
