Before your procedure, please do the following:
• Eat a regular supper the evening before. You will be asked not to eat or drink for six to eight hours before the procedure to prevent nausea.
• Arrange for a friend or family member to drive you to and from the hospital.
• Do not bring large sums of money or valuables to the hospital.
• Bring a list of your current medications and doses.
        •  You may be asked to stop taking certain medications several days before the procedure to ensure accurate results.
        •   Blood thinners are usually held at least 24 hours before the procedure. If you are taking a blood thinner, please let us know.
        •   For diabetic patients under insulin, the dosage may be readjusted the evening or the morning before the procedure.
• Tell us about any allergic reactions you have experienced from medications.
• Before your procedure, I will review your medical history and examine you. I will again explain the purpose of the procedure, its potential benefits and possible risks. Because the electrophysiology procedure is "invasive," requiring the insertion of catheters into the body, it involves some risk. The risk is small; however, the study is relatively safe.
• You will also be asked to sign an informed consent form written by the Swiss foundation of cardiology (swissheart.ch). This form states that you understand everything about your procedure. You should read through the consent carefully before signing it. Please, ask again if you have any questions or need more information. You can get a second opinion if you would like to.
• Most of the procedures are performed under local anesthesia. Few procedures are done under general anesthesia (such as atrial fibrillation ablation). In such cases, you will have an appointment scheduled with the anesthesiologist before.
• In several cases, pre-admission test, such as blood work and Covid-19 test ( usually 48 hours before) will be mandatory. These can be performed at your primary care doctor’s office.
• Most of the time, you will be able to go home the same day. However, in specific cases, you will stay one night after your procedure.