If your abnormal heartbeats come from a location in the bottom of your heart, it is possible that you may pass out for a short period of time during the procedure. This is because your heart may be beating at a very fast speed or trembling without pumping at all. When this happens, there is not enough blood being pumped to the brain and it makes you pass out very quickly.

To return your heartbeat to normal, your doctor may need to give a quick, electrical shock to your heart, called defibrillation. If this happens, you will feel burning or discomfort in your chest. You may also have burns on the skin of your chest that may leave a scar. However, this is rare as moist pads are placed on the chest to prevent skin burns. After defibrillation, your chest may feel sore for several days.

If your doctor believes you are at high risk for having these serious abnormal heartbeats without warning, an implantable defibrillator may be recommended for you. This device will constantly monitor your heartbeat, quickly recognizing and stopping abnormal heartbeats when they occur.