Before
Pulmonary vein isolation is done in the hospital. A member of your care team places an IV into your forearm or hand and gives you a medicine called a sedative to help you relax.
The amount of sedation needed for the treatment depends on your specific irregular heartbeat and other health conditions. You may be fully awake or lightly sedated. Sometimes a combination of medicines is used to put you in a sleep-like state. This is called general anesthesia.
During
During pulmonary vein isolation, the doctor makes a small cut to reach a blood vessel in the groin, shoulder or neck. One or more flexible tubes called catheters are guided through the blood vessel into the area of the heart being treated.
Sometimes dye flows through the catheters. The dye is often called contrast. It helps blood vessels show up more clearly on X-ray images.
Sensors on the tip of the catheters send electrical signals and record the heart's electricity. This part of the procedure is called an electrophysiology (EP) study. An EP study can show where an irregular heartbeat starts in the heart. The information helps your care team know where to apply the treatment.
The doctor guides the catheters into the upper left chamber of the heart where the lung veins connect. One of the following methods is used to create small scars in the heart to block faulty signals:
- Heat energy, called radiofrequency energy.
- Extreme cold energy, called cryoablation.
Usually, each of the four lung veins is treated during pulmonary vein isolation.
You may feel some minor discomfort when the catheter is moved into your heart and when the treatment occurs. If you have severe pain or shortness of breath, let your healthcare team know.
After
Pulmonary vein isolation usually takes 3 to 6 hours to complete. The time may vary depending on the specific irregular heartbeat.
After pulmonary vein isolation, you are typically taken to a recovery area to rest quietly for a few hours. A care professional checks your heartbeat and blood pressure.
Depending on your condition, you may go home the same day or spend the night in the hospital. Plan to have someone else drive you home after your procedure.
You may feel a little sore after your pulmonary vein isolation. The soreness should go away in about a week. Your care team gives you specific information about when you can safely return to any activities.