Cardiac ablation is a medical procedure that is performed to correct a disturbance in heart rhythm such as an abnormal or fast heart beat, according to the website UpToDate. During cardiac ablation, radio waves are used to destroy the tissue or nerves that are causing the abnormal heart rhythm. In some cases, a pacemaker or small electrical device that regulates heart beats may be inserted into the body to keep the heart beating normally. Complications are rare, but it is important to know the risks associated with any procedure.
Injury to the Heart
A serious risk associated with cardiac ablation is an injury to the heart, according to MayoClinic.com. During cardiac ablation, catheters or small tubes are inserted into veins or arteries on the right and left side of the inner thighs. As the catheters move through the body there is a chance that they may puncture the heart muscle, injury blood vessels or damage one of the valves within the heart.
Bleeding or Blood Clots
People who have cardiac ablation may experience bleeding or blood clots, according to the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute. Minor bleeding at the catheter site is to be expected following cardiac ablation, but severe bleeding that worsens over time may signal internal bleeding. In addition, blood clots may form in the blood vessels in the legs after the procedure due to immobility. In some cases, a blood clot may loosen from the blood vessel and travel through the body to the lungs, heart or brain causing an embolism, stroke or heart attack.
Aortic Valve Stenosis
Another risk associated with cardiac ablation is aortic valve stenosis. Stenosis occurs when the aortic valve or the vein that carries blood from the lungs to the heart is constricted, according to the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute. People who have cardiac ablation may experience stenosis when scar tissue forms in the aortic valve and blocks blood flow to the heart. MayoClinic.com states that when the aortic valve is obstructed, the heart pumps harder to supply blood to the rest of the body, which eventually weakens the heart and results in fatigue and dizziness.
