Indications for radiofrequency ablation: Patients who wish to undergo radiofrequency ablation; Patients with frequent paroxysmal atrial fibrillation or symptomatic persistent atrial fibrillation; Patients who have failed medication or are unwilling to take medication; Patients who cannot tolerate antiarrhythmic drugs or have significant side effects after taking medication. Preoperative preparation for radiofrequency ablation: Ø history review and physical examination Ø routine cardiac examination: ECG, chest X-ray, Holter, echocardiography Ø routine preoperative laboratory tests: routine blood, urine and stool, liver and kidney functions, coagulation tests, screening for infectious diseases, thyroid function, etc. Ø preoperative talk: patient and family fully understand Preoperative questions Ø Preoperative preparation: skin preparation, water fasting, etc., according to the doctor’s arrangement What do I feel during the RF ablation? Ø Patients only need local anesthesia and stay awake during the whole procedure Ø There may be slight discomfort or burning sensation in the chest during the treatment Ø The procedure usually lasts about 3 hours, you may feel a little fatigue Ø The procedure does not need to open the chest, the trauma is very small Ø The whole process of close cardiac monitoring, the risk is controlled and the safety is high Radiofrequency ablation is performed in the cardiology catheterization room. The procedure is routinely performed under x-ray guidance, and an advanced three-dimensional calibration system is used to guide the precise position of the ablation catheter and to observe the integrity of the ablation process in order to improve the success rate of the procedure. After local skin disinfection, a venipuncture is performed in the patient’s subclavian (located in the shoulder) and/or femoral vein (in the groin) and an electrode catheter is placed for examination and treatment. The tip of the ablation catheter delivers radiofrequency current to generate heat to ablate the abnormal myocardial tissue in the atrial cavity that causes atrial fibrillation episodes. There may be some chest pain or burning during the ablation procedure, and the surgeon will use analgesic or sedative medications as appropriate to reduce the patient’s discomfort. Post-operative precautions: After the procedure, the catheter is removed from the vein, no local sutures are needed, and the patient is compressed with a sand bag for 6-8 hours, and the patient is required to lie flat for 12 hours, after which he/she can move normally on the floor. The patient will need to take the anticoagulant drug warfarin for a period of time after surgery, so you will need to remain in the hospital for a few days to adjust the dose of the drug, or if you are already taking it, you can be discharged 2-3 days after surgery. Post-discharge treatment: Please keep your puncture site dry for 1 week after discharge, do not swim, and take a shower. You will need to continue to take anti-arrhythmic medications such as cortisone and cardioplegia for 3 months after surgery, and if there is no recurrence of atrial fibrillation, you can stop taking the medication after 3 months. After successful radiofrequency ablation, you will still need to take warfarin for 3 months for anticoagulation because atrial function may not be restored immediately after the procedure and there is still a possibility of atrial thrombosis. 3 months later, Holter and echocardiography will be performed to confirm when warfarin can be discontinued, taking into account the patient’s symptoms. At the time of discharge, you will be invited by the ward nurse to join the cardiology follow-up clinic so that you can receive long-term and systematic follow-up in the future. Once you are enrolled, you can make an appointment to see a specialist and we will follow up closely on any changes in your condition. For more information, please refer to the “Follow-Up Clinic Guide”. What should I do if I have symptoms after surgery? Some patients may still experience episodes of premature beats or atrial fibrillation for 3 months after radiofrequency ablation. This is related to the damage to the atria caused by the radiofrequency energy and the recovery process of the atria, and does not mean a recurrence of atrial fibrillation. Most patients will have complete resolution of symptoms after 3 months. Therefore, if symptoms such as palpitations occur within 3 months, please do not be anxious and continue to take the medication as prescribed or contact your doctor promptly through a follow-up clinic to determine the most appropriate management.