I recently had a pulsed field ablation which resulted in pericarditis

Posted by gracie71 @gracie71, May 2, 2024

I have had Afib for 5 years and recently had a pulsed field ablation. After the ablation l experienced pain on my left chest side which only grew worse as l continued to breath. I was given an echocardiogram that revealed a small area of fluid around my heart. I was told with medication, Colchicine, that I would soon be free of painful breathing and shoulder pain.

Has anyone experienced this from an ablation, specifically PFA.

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Janell, Volunteer Mentor | @jlharsh | Mar 4 4:14pm

In reply to @mberry9899 "I had my PFA last Thursday late afternoon and stayed overnight in recovery. My bp was..." + (show)

Hi, @mberry9899 and welcome to Connect. I am sorry you needed pulsed field ablation and now dealing with pericarditis. That being said, I am also glad to see you post about your experience. I am hopeful right along with you, that you continue a quick road to recovery.

Did they give you instructions for anything to help reduce swelling and symptoms while you wait for an echocardiogram?

jenatsky | @jenatsky | Mar 12 4:36pm

Unfortunately you’re one of the few who suffers from this. Sorry for your pain.
https://www.jscai.org/article/S2772-9303(25)00471-5/fulltext
https://www.heartrhythmjournal.com/article/S1547-5271(25)01324-4/fulltext

mberry9899 | @mberry9899 | Mar 23 4:06pm

In reply to @jlharsh "Hi, @mberry9899 and welcome to Connect. I am sorry you needed pulsed field ablation and now..." + (show)

@jlharsh I'm 3 weeks out from my ablation and I'm feeling much better. I have a follow up echocardiogram this week, the one I had the week after the ablation showed some pericarditis. My pulse is still high but that's expected 3 months post ablation. Hopefully this one sticks!!

Janell, Volunteer Mentor | @jlharsh | Mar 23 7:03pm

In reply to @mberry9899 "@jlharsh I'm 3 weeks out from my ablation and I'm feeling much better. I have a..." + (show)

@mberry9899 Great news that you are feeling better! I am here, hopeful right along with you.

Please let me know what you learn from echocardiogram.

What did they have to say about pericarditis showing up?

mberry9899 | @mberry9899 | Mar 27 12:07pm

In reply to @jlharsh "@mberry9899 Great news that you are feeling better! I am here, hopeful right along with you...." + (show)

@jlharsh my echocardiogram showed the same, small amount of fluid and my doctor wants it repeated on April 1st.
He said it's a possible side effect from the ablation. I'm feeling much better this week!

mberry9899 | @mberry9899 | Mar 27 12:09pm

In reply to @jenatsky "Unfortunately you’re one of the few who suffers from this. Sorry for your pain. https://www.jscai.org/article/S2772-9303(25)00471-5/fulltext https://www.heartrhythmjournal.com/article/S1547-5271(25)01324-4/fulltext" + (show)

@jenatsky thanks, I'm feeling much better and hopefully the pericarditis is gone at my next echocardiogram on April 1st!

Janell, Volunteer Mentor | @jlharsh | Mar 27 7:26pm

In reply to @mberry9899 "@jlharsh my echocardiogram showed the same, small amount of fluid and my doctor wants it repeated..." + (show)

@mberry9899 Feeling better is a win.

Did your doctor recommend anything you should be doing to help reduce pericarditis, maybe rest or increased activity, etc?

gracie71 | @gracie71 | Mar 28 10:31am

After l had my PFA l experienced chest pain which was pericarditis and was told that it was a result of the electrophysiologist having spent a long time in my heart during ablation. It hurt and warm blankets piled on my chest seemed to help plus l was given colchicine for a week or so afterwards. For me, PFA, although highly acclaimed was not a get up and go procedure. I had spells of weakness for weeks post procedure. I'm told that the baskets used to ablation are smaller now and will perhaps make PFA more successful for patients and their physicians. I do hope that you will continue to recover beautifully. I've encountered several other patients who have experienced pericarditis and it's no picnic.

mooseman | @mooseman | 6 days ago

Fortunately, I have not experienced this since my PF ablation in February of 2025 and have not experienced any AF episodes in that time. I also stopped drinking alcohol (mainly beer) which was my trigger. Best of luck to you.

mberry9899 | @mberry9899 | 6 days ago

In reply to @jlharsh "@mberry9899 Feeling better is a win. Did your doctor recommend anything you should be doing to..." + (show)

@jlharsh no, he didn't tell me anything to do, I was a little tired, but not as.much as before the ablation.

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