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Suggest Treatment For Swelling And Numbness In Legs
Question: I had a catheter ablation for afib 3 mo ago I still have leg swelling , now in the groin discoloration and numbness in both legs outside leg if each leg; when will go away? Should u use heat or massage?
Brief Answer:
I recommend consulting with your doctor as soon as possible
Detailed Answer:
Hello!
Thank you for asking on HCM!
I understand your concern and would explain that it is not uncommon to develop leg, hand or face swelling due to volume excess after this procedure.
It may also cause transient shortness of breath, cough or high blood pressure.
This can be explained by the fact that ablation catheters deliver saline (salt water) with each burn; anesthesia often requires saline infusions to maintain blood pressure, and the heart can be stunned after ablation.
Swelling and volume excess is not heart failure per se, but it usually responds to a few days or weeks of taking a diuretic medication.
But it is a longer time in your situation.
Coming to this point other complications like a blood clot formation, or vessel inflammation can not be excluded.
Do you have pain when walking? Do you have fever? Are your symptoms relieved by raising your legs?
I would strongly recommend to consult as soon as possible with your attending physician or your surgeon for a careful physical examination (including a careful inspection of the catheter insertion site, pulses), a Doppler ultrasound of the lower limbs vessels and some blood lab tests :
- complete blood count
- INR
- PCR, sedimentation rate (inflammation)
I would not recommend using any heat procedure, because it may cause further dilation of the vessels, worsening the leg swelling.
The compressive bands or stocks in your legs may help to reduce the leg swelling.
Hope to have been helpful!
Feel free to ask any other questions whenever you need!
Best regards,
Dr. Iliri
I recommend consulting with your doctor as soon as possible
Detailed Answer:
Hello!
Thank you for asking on HCM!
I understand your concern and would explain that it is not uncommon to develop leg, hand or face swelling due to volume excess after this procedure.
It may also cause transient shortness of breath, cough or high blood pressure.
This can be explained by the fact that ablation catheters deliver saline (salt water) with each burn; anesthesia often requires saline infusions to maintain blood pressure, and the heart can be stunned after ablation.
Swelling and volume excess is not heart failure per se, but it usually responds to a few days or weeks of taking a diuretic medication.
But it is a longer time in your situation.
Coming to this point other complications like a blood clot formation, or vessel inflammation can not be excluded.
Do you have pain when walking? Do you have fever? Are your symptoms relieved by raising your legs?
I would strongly recommend to consult as soon as possible with your attending physician or your surgeon for a careful physical examination (including a careful inspection of the catheter insertion site, pulses), a Doppler ultrasound of the lower limbs vessels and some blood lab tests :
- complete blood count
- INR
- PCR, sedimentation rate (inflammation)
I would not recommend using any heat procedure, because it may cause further dilation of the vessels, worsening the leg swelling.
The compressive bands or stocks in your legs may help to reduce the leg swelling.
Hope to have been helpful!
Feel free to ask any other questions whenever you need!
Best regards,
Dr. Iliri
Note: click here to Consult a cardiac surgeon online. to know the best treatment option for your heart-related issues
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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