Atrial fibrillation is a type of heart arrhythmia that causes a fast and irregular pulse. This disorder occurs when the top heart chambers, or atria, pulse in a chaotic way due to abnormal functioning of the heart's electrical system. Atrial fibrillation often results from heart failure, high blood pressure, binge drinking, coronary heart disease or hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, notes MedlinePlus. An ablation procedure to fix atrial fibrillation can cause a variety of complications.
Heart Block
A radiofrequency atrial ablation procedure gets the heart back in a normal rhythm, and will typically cure atrial fibrillation by destroying the small area of the heart that causes the atrial fibrillation, notes MayoClinic.com. In this procedure, a wire is used to move heat or nitrous oxide to the area causing the heart arrhythmia to fix the problem. However, if the ablation is performed right on the AV junction where the electrical impulses are filtered, it will cause a heart block that will require implant of a pacemaker, notes the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.
Bleeding and Pain
Minor complications of radiofrequency ablation include bleeding or pain in the location of the wires used in the procedure. A radiofrequency ablation can also cause the pulmonary veins that move blood from the lungs into the heart to decrease in width due to scarring. This disorder does not usually require treatment.
Stroke
A stroke is a serious complication of the radiofrequency ablation procedure. Around 1 in 100 patients who have this procedure experience a stroke, notes the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.
Leak in Heart Wall
A leak sometimes develops in the heart wall during a radiofrequency ablation. Bleeding will occur; the blood can gather in a pocket surrounding the heart, which puts pressure on the organ. This is called a cardiac tamponade; it occurs in about 1 in 100 patients who have a radiofrequency ablation, reports the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. The problem is fixed via placing a needle through the chest to draw out the blood. In more serious cases, open surgery is required.
Hole Between Esophagus and Heart
Though rarely, a hole sometimes forms between the esophagus and the heart from radiofrequency ablation. Strong bleeding can result. This disorder can be deadly, notes the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.
