Possible Complications
Problems are rare, but all procedures have some risk. Your doctor will go over some problems that could happen such as:
- Excess bleeding
- Infection
- Blood clots
- Damage to other organs or structures
Things that may raise the risk of problems are:
- Smoking
- Drinking alcohol
- Long term health issues such as diabetes and obesity
Reasons for Procedure
This procedure is used to destroy abnormal tissue that may be causing health problems. It may be used to treat:
- Tumors—to reduce their size
- Cardiac arrhythmias—to destroy areas of the heart
that cause uneven or fast heartbeats
- Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH)—to remove extra
prostate tissue
- Severe snoring and/or sleep
apnea—to remove excess tissue at the back of the mouth and throat
- Severe nerve pain
- Varicose veins—removes veins that cause
problems
What to Expect
Prior to Procedure
The care team may meet with you to talk about:
- Anesthesia options
- Any allergies you may have
- Current medicines, herbs, and supplements that you take and whether you need to stop taking them before the procedure
- Fasting before the procedure, such as avoiding food or drink after midnight the night before
- Whether you need a ride to and from the procedure
- Tests that will need to be done before the procedure
Anesthesia
Local anesthesia will be used—the area will be numbed.
If this is done as part of another surgery, you may have:
- General anesthesia—you
will be asleep
- Spinal anesthesia—you
will be numb from the belly down
Description of the Procedure
The exact steps will depend on where the tissue is located. A
probe is applied to the area. Or the probe may be passed through a small tube to the
area. Imaging such as a CT scan, ultrasound, or MRI scan will help guide
the doctor to the area.
A small amount of electricity is passed through the tube. This heats and destroys the tissue. The probe may also be used to destroy other areas of tissue.
How Long Will It Take?
About 10 to 60 minutes
Will It Hurt?
Pain after the procedure depends on where it was done and how
much tissue was destroyed. Medicine and home care help
Average Hospital Stay
Some may leave the hospital on the same day. Others will need to stay overnight so the doctor can check them.
Post-procedure Care
Most people return to their normal activities within a few
days.
Problems to Look Out For
Call your doctor if you are not getting better or you have:
- Signs of infection, such as fever or chills
- Redness, swelling, a lot of bleeding, or any discharge from the incision
- Pain that you cannot control with pain medicine
- Cough, problems breathing, pounding heart, or chest pain
- Lasting nausea or vomiting
If you think you have an emergency, call for medical help right away.
