The two small marks right next to each other are the entry wounds for the catheter used during the electrophysiology study, which was about 2 mm thick. They said there would be just one catheter inserted there; I don’t know why there are two wounds. The larger wound was for the ablation catheter, which was thicker—just under 3 mm That’s the one they used to send radio frequency energy (microwaves) to one of my accessory pathways and cook it. The catheters were inserted in my jugular vein and sent to the inside of my heart.

My neck was a bit sore and stiff there for a few days. The nurse who discharged me assured that I would have full mobility after a week. I’ll take it a day at a time.

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Catheter Ablation for Tachycardia: My Experience as a Patient. Revised: 11/09/2001
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