Cardiac Ablation....?!

After cardiac ablation the patient will be required to lie still for approximately four to six hours after the procedure. Nurses will closely monitor heart rate, blood pressure, and check for bleeding at the catheterization sites. The patient can be hospitalized for up to three days following a cardiac ablation procedure or it is possible that they will go home on the same day.Most do get home one the first or second day, and will be able to function normally once home with the exception of lifting anything heavy.
We find it better to advise patients to take it easy for a week or so once home, just to cut down any little risks.
Seek immediate medical attention if you experience fever, rapid heart rate, chest pain, difficulty breathing, or dizziness after a cardiac ablation.

Walking will be fine with no problems.

THe actual procedure takes is as follows.
Catheter ablation is a procedure where one or more flexible, thin tubes (catheters) are guided via x-ray into the blood vessels and directed to the heart muscle. A burst of radiofrequency energy destroys very small areas of tissue that give rise to abnormal electrical signals.
Most often using the blood vessels in the groin to gain access.

The procedure is quite long usually about 4 to 6 hours but your friend will be sedated throughout (though not knocked right out) and the medical staff will be careful to take care that she is not in any pain or distress during this procedure.

Catheters are inserted through just a small cut in which ever bolood vessel is chosen for access these are fed up under x ray control to the heart.
Once the catheter is in place, your doctor places small electrodes in different areas of your heart.

These electrodes are connected to monitors that allow the cardiologist to tell what area in your heart is causing problems with your heart rhythm. Usually, there are one or more specific areas.
Once the source of the problem has been found, one of the catheter lines is used to send electrical (or sometimes cold) energy to the problem area.
This destroys the problem area, creating a small scar that causes the heart rhythm problem to stop.

I hope that helps

Registered Nurse
Seen this done often.

Pressure to reduce bleeding is put on the area where the catheters were inserted into your body. You will be kept in bed for at least 1 hour, and maybe up to 5 or 6 hours. Your heart rhythm will be monitored during this time.
Your doctor will decide whether you can go home on the same day or if you will need to stay in the hospital overnight to continue monitoring your heart. You will need someone to drive you home after your procedure
For 2 or 3 days after your procedure, you may have these symptoms:
* You may feel tired.
* Your chest may feel achy.
* You may notice skipped heartbeats, or times when your heartbeat is very fast or irregular.
Your doctor may keep you on your medicines, or give you new ones that help control your heart rhythm.

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/cardiac…
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/…
http://www.merckmanuals.com/professional…
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ablation#Me…