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Cardiac ablation procedures - Risks

Alternative Names

Catheter ablation; Radiofrequency catheter ablation

Risks:

Catheter ablation is generally safe. Talk with your doctor about these rare complications:

  • Bleeding or blood pooling where the catheter is inserted
  • Blood clot that goes to arteries in your leg, heart, or brain
  • Damage to the artery where the catheter is inserted
  • Damage to heart valves
  • Damage to the coronary arteries (blood vessels that carry blood to your heart)
  • Esophageal atrial fistula (a connection that forms between your esophagus and part of your heart)
  • Fluid around the heart (cardiac tamponade)
  • Heart attack
  • Vagal or phrenic nerve damage
  • Reviewed last on: 11/19/2010
  • David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine; and Michael A. Chen, MD, PhD, Assistant Professor of Medicine, Division of Cardiology, Harborview Medical Center, University of Washington Medical School, Seattle, Washington. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

References

Calkins H, Brugada J, Packer DL, Cappato R, Chen SA, Crijns HJ, et al. (HRS/EHRA/ECAS expert consensus statement on catheter and surgical ablation of atrial fibrillation: recommendations for personnel, policy, procedures and follow-up. A report of the Heart Rhythm Society (HRS) Task Force on catheter and surgical ablation of atrial fibrillation. Heart Rhythm. 2007:4(6): 816-61.

Miller JM, Zipes DP. Therapy for cardiac arrhythmias. In: Libby P, Bonow RO, Mann DL, Zipes DP, eds. Braunwald's Heart Disease: A Textbook of Cardiovascular Medicine. 8th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2007:chap 33.

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