Catheter Ablation of Atrial Fibrillation: What Are the Risks and Complications and How Do We Avoid Them?

摘要

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common cardiac arrhythmia, with a prevalence of between 2(percent) and 4(percent) in the general population over 60 years old and an increasing incidence with age [1]. Its presence causes a rise in morbidity and mortality rates due to the increase of embolic risk and loss of atrial function with a consequent decrease in cardiac performance. Very often AF is associated with disabling symptoms-such as palpitations, exercise intolerance, and fatigue-that can influence the quality of life significantly. In patients affected by persistent or permanent AF with rapid ventricular response, the persistent high rate may produce a tachycardiomyopathy that can be reversible when sinus rhythm is restored or the ventricular rate is controlled. This arrhythmia is also a significant social financial burden. In the USA, AF causes more hospital admissions than any other arrhythmia, accounting for a nearly 1 million hospital days per year [2].