Is Pulmonary vein isolation (ablation) risk free?
Pulmonary vein isolation is associated with risks of serious complications. These need to be considered carefully. The following risks/complications can happen during or after procedure. • Damage to the veins or arteries while inserting catheters in the groin, which could cause bleeding or a blood clot in the leg. • Puncture of the heart wall with a catheter. This can cause blood to leak from your heart into the sac around your heart. This is a medical emergency that requires immediate treatment. Most patients respond to inserting a drain through the chest into the sac surrounding the heart. Under unusual circumstances, emergency open-heart surgery may be required. • Stroke. All patients with atrial fibrillation are at risk of a stroke. A stroke can also occur around the time of the procedure either due to a catheter loosening a blood clot or as a direct result of the burning that is required during the procedure. Most studies have reported a risk of stroke of approximately one in 100
