Cardiac ablation, which is also referred to as catheter ablation, is a surgical procedure used to fix heart rhythm abnormalities called arrhythmias. This procedure typically involves the placement of a small tube or catheter, within the heart through a vein in a patient's leg. Cardiac ablation works by destroying the tissue responsible for disrupting the electrical signal involved in signaling heart muscle contractions, or heart beats, explains MayoClinic.com. Patients should discuss the potential complications of cardiac ablation with a medical professional before undergoing this procedure.
Blood Clot or Stroke
Patients who undergo cardiac ablation can develop a blood clot as a complication of this procedure, explain medical professionals with the National Heart Lung Blood Institute. Blood clots are clumps of platelets that can form near the site of catheter placement. If a blood clot becomes stuck within the heart, it can block blood flow to the heart, leading to a heart attack. The blood clot can also break loose and flow into the brain. If this occurs, the blood clot can interfere with blood flow to the brain, causing a stroke. These complications of cardiac ablation can be life-threatening and require immediate medical attention.
Pulmonary Vein Stenosis
Certain patients can experience unusual narrowing of the veins that transport blood between the lungs and the heart, a complication of cardiac ablation referred to as pulmonary vein stenosis, explain MayoClinic.com. Symptoms associated with pulmonary vein stenosis include increased heart rate, fatigue and difficulty breathing. An inadequate supply of oxygen to the body's cells, tissues and organs due to stenosis can also cause a patient to develop unusually pale or blue skin.
Pericardial Tamponade
In a July 2008 article published in "Critical Care Nursing Clinics of North America," nurse Beryl Keegan explains that pericardial tamponade can occur as a complication of cardiac ablation. Pericardial tamponade is a medical term used to describe the excessive accumulation of blood between the heart muscle and the pericardium, a protective sac that surrounds the heart. Symptoms of pericardial tamponade can include breathing difficulties, lightheadedness, anxiety, chest pain, abdominal swelling, skin discoloration or heart rate abnormalities, warns MedlinePlus. Patients who develop pericardial tamponade symptoms following cardiac ablation require immediate medical attention, as this complication can also be a sign of heart attack.
Blood Vessel or Heart Damage
During a cardiac ablation procedure, the surgeon may accidentally damage a patient's heart or blood vessel while placing the catheter, explain National Heart Lung Blood Institute medical experts. Inadvertent blood vessel or heart damage requires immediate medical intervention.
