106
Management
8.4.5. Complications Following AF Catheter Ablation
Table 26 . Complications Following Atrial Fibrillation
Catheter Ablation
Complication
Frequency of
Complication Timing of Complication
LA-esophageal fistula 0.2% 1–4 wk
Cardiac perforation w/
tamponade
0.4%–1.5% During procedure
CVA/TIA 0.1%–1.0% During procedure and up to 1 wk
Pulmonary vein (PV) stenosis 0.1%–0.8% Months
Phrenic nerve paralysis 0.2%–0.4% During procedure
Vascular access complications 1%–7% During procedure and up to 1 mon
Vascular access complications
requiring surgery
0.1%–0.3% During procedure and up to 1 mon
Death 0.1%–0.4% During procedure
Pneumonia 0.4%–1.0% Days
8.5. Role of Pacemakers and Implantable Cardioverter-
Defibrillators for the Prevention and Treatment of AF
COR LOE
Recommendations
1 A 1. In patients with bradycardia requiring cardiac-implanted
electronic devices who have normal AV conduction, device
selection and programming strategies to maintain AV
synchrony and minimize ventricular pacing should be used to
reduce the incidence and progression of AF.
2b B-NR 2. In selected patients with a pacemaker and symptomatic atrial
tachyarrhythmias, antitachycardia atrial pacing and ventricular
pacing minimization may be useful for reducing symptoms.
2b C-LD 3. In patients with AF who require significant ventricular
pacing, conduction system pacing may be useful to reduce
progression of AF.
3: No
benefit
B-R 4. In patients with AF, specialized atrial pacing algorithms
designed to suppress AF are not useful for reducing the
incidence or slowing the progression of AF.
