Side Effects of Heart Ablation
Heart ablation, also known as cardiac ablation, is a treatment which can be used for certain kinds of heart arrythmias 24. This procedure involves threading a catheter through blood vessels until it gets to the heart. The catheter can then be used to destroy any abnormal heart tissue which is causing the arrythmia. This procedure, like many surgical procedures, can cause certain side effects.
Bleeding
One of the main side effects of cardiac ablation is that bleeding can occur as a result of the procedure 24. Patients should expect some minor bleeding or bruising at the site where the catheter is inserted, the Mayo Clinic notes. The bleeding or bruising may be more severe than usual because many patients are put on blood thinners before the procedure to reduce the risk of blood clots forming. Severe bleeding or bruising requires medical attention.
- One of the main side effects of cardiac ablation is that bleeding can occur as a result of the procedure 2.
- The bleeding or bruising may be more severe than usual because many patients are put on blood thinners before the procedure to reduce the risk of blood clots forming.
Cardiovascular System Trauma
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In some cases the catheter which is used for the ablation can cause structural damage to the cardiovascular system, notes Baptist Health 14. The blood vessels through which the catheter is threaded can become scraped or punctured, resulting in internal bleeding. In more serious cases the heart itself can be punctured, resulting in internal bleeding. In some cases the blood can pool around the heart, resulting in a condition known as cardiac tamponade, according to John Muir Health 4.
Arrythmia
In many cases, the tissue that is destroyed during a cardiac ablation is not a part of the normal electrical conduction system of the heart, the Texas Arrythmia Institute explains 234. However, in some cases the ablation itself can disrupt the heart's normal conduction, resulting in new cardiac arrythmias 24. Severe cases can require the surgical implantation of a permanent pacemaker.
Blood Clots
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Procedures that involve the cardiovascular system can result in blood clots as the heart beat is slowed by anesthesia during the procedure, which can promote coagulation of blood cells. . In addition, the catheter can disrupt circulation, resulting in the formation of blood clots. Blood clots can cause localized pain and swelling if they occur in veins. These blood clots can also migrate into arteries, where they can cause a heart attack or a stroke.
- Procedures that involve the cardiovascular system can result in blood clots as the heart beat is slowed by anesthesia during the procedure, which can promote coagulation of blood cells.
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- These blood clots can also migrate into arteries, where they can cause a heart attack or a stroke.
Pulmonary Vein Stenosis
Narrowing of the veins which carry oxygenated blood from the lungs to the heart is a common side effect of cardiac ablation, notes John Muir Health 124. Sometimes this condition does not cause any functional circulatory impairment, but in more severe cases, it can lead to shortness of breath and a chronic cough as blood backs up into the lungs. Severe cases can be treated by placing a stent in the pulmonary veins.
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References
- Baptist Health: Catheter Ablation
- Mayo Clinic: Cardiac Ablation
- Texas Arrythmia Institute: Ablation
- John Muir Health: Cardiac Ablation
- Page RL, Joglar JA, Caldwell MA, et al. 2015 ACC/AHA/HRS Guideline for the Management of Adult Patients With Supraventricular Tachycardia: A Report of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Task Force on Clinical Practice Guidelines and the Heart Rhythm Society. J Am Coll Cardiol 2016; 67:e27. doi:10.1016/j.jacc.2015.08.856
- Bohnen M, Stevenson WG, Tedrow UB, et al. Incidence and Predictors of Major Complications From Contemporary Catheter Ablation to Treat Cardiac Arrhythmias . Heart Rhythm 2011; 8:1661. doi:10.1016/j.hrthm.2011.05.017
- Josephson ME. Catheter and Surgical Ablation in the Therapy of Arrhythmias. In: Clinical Cardiac Electrophysiology, 4th, Lippincott, Philadelphia 2008. p.746.
- Tanawuttiwat T, Nazarian S, Calkins H. The Role of Catheter Ablation in the Management of Ventricular Tachycardia. Eur Heart J 2016; 37:594. doi:10.1093/eurheartj/ehv421,
Writer Bio
Adam Cloe has been published in various scientific journals, including the "Journal of Biochemistry." He is currently a pathology resident at the University of Chicago. Cloe holds a Bachelor of Arts in biochemistry from Boston University, a M.D. from the University of Chicago and a Ph.D. in pathology from the University of Chicago.