Cardiac ablation is a medical procedure used to treat cardiac arrhythmia, a condition in which the heart beats too fast, too slow or irregularly, according to the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute. Also called catheter ablation, the procedure begins by inserting a thin tube called a catheter into a blood vessel in the arm, neck or groin. The catheter is then gently guided into the heart, where a machine sends radio waves or electrical energy through the catheter to heat and destroy tiny areas of the heart that are causing the arrhythmia. Cardiac ablation carries some risks that can be fatal though this is rare. The risk of serious complications is highest in people over 75 years old and those with kidney disease or diabetes.
Heart Damage
There is a small risk that inserting the catheter into the heart will poke a hole in the heart, according to the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute. This can cause bleeding that will need to be drained with another catheter or even surgery. But it happens in less than one percent of cases, according to the American Heart Association. Also, there is a risk that by destroying some heart tissue; the heart's electrical system, which is responsible for generating an even heart beat, will be damaged. Some patients require a permanent pacemaker to fix this problem after a cardiac ablation procedure. The procedure can also cause fluid to build up around the heart, which can cause the heart to malfunction. The heart valves can also be damaged.
Blood Vessel Damage
Though rare, sometimes the blood vessels can be damaged by the catheter, according to the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute. The catheter can scrape or even puncture a blood vessel as it is being threaded through to get to the heart. Also, sometimes the veins that carry blood from the lungs to the heart are narrowed by this procedure. The coronary arteries that carry blood to the heart can also be injured and that can lead to a heart attack, according to the American Heart Association.
Other Risks
Sometimes the procedure causes blood clots to form, which can travel through the body and do considerable damage, according to the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute. This can cause heart attack, stroke and other problems. There's also a risk of bleeding, bruising, infection and pain in the neck, arm or groin where the catheter is inserted. There can also be damage to the nerves in the chest area.
