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Collateral damage from Catheter Ablation of Atrial Fibrillation


Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common sustained arrhythmia, contributing to a significant morbidity and mortality.  Catheter ablation of the pulmonary veins (PVs) and left atrium (LA) has been shown to be an effective strategy for the treatment of symptomatic AF.  Regardless of technological advances and technique improvement, catheter ablation for AF remains a highly complex procedure and the risk of procedural complications is not negligible. The major complications have been reported to occur in up to 5.2% of procedures.  A systematic investigation among 32,569 patients undergoing catheter ablation for AF has demonstrated that mortality is around 0.1%.  Nevertheless, the true prevalence of complications is possibly underestimated in retrospective surveys because of recollection bias and other factors.  This article will focus on the management of serious complications of catheter AF ablation including PV stenosis, atrioesophageal fistula, cardiac tamponade, stroke and thromboembolic complications and how to reduce or avoid these complications.

Credits: Wanwarang Wongcharoen, MD; Li-Wei Lo, MD; Shih-Ann Chen, MD


Biosense Webster
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Introduction to AFib
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