What are the sequelae of radiofrequency ablation of atrial fibrillation?

Patients with atrial fibrillation may experience different types of complications when undergoing radiofrequency ablation in 5% to 7% of patients. Common and more serious complications are stroke, transient ischemic attack, cardiac tamponade, phrenic nerve injury, and some relatively rare complications, such as atrioventricular esophageal fistula and pulmonary vein stenosis. Radiofrequency catheter ablation, which has been used to treat arrhythmias for more than 30 years, is a technique that is constantly being improved. For paroxysmal atrial fibrillation where drug therapy is ineffective, it is a Class I indication for catheter ablation. Catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation includes linear ablation of the left atrium, atrial fracture potential ablation, and pulmonary vein vestibular isolation. Among these, pulmonary vein electrical isolation, sinus rhythm maintenance rates of 60% to 80% can be achieved one year after the procedure. However, this treatment is relatively less successful in treating patients with non-paroxysmal atrial fibrillation. Some studies have shown that catheter ablation in patients with atrial fibrillation is superior to continuous pharmacologic therapy. Although catheter ablation in patients with atrial fibrillation may result in the formation of perioperative thrombi that can cause transient ischemic attacks or cerebral embolism, which have been shown in large-scale clinical trial studies to have a prevalence of approximately 0.5% to 1%, the severity of symptomatic transient ischemic attacks and cerebral embolism associated with transcatheter atrial fibrillation ablation therapy, regardless of the severity, has a significant impact on the patient’s cognitive The long-term prognosis for recovery of function and organismal function remains relatively good. In patients after AF ablation, the decision to continue anticoagulation therapy is based on the CHA2DS2-VASc score. In low-risk patients with stroke, it is often recommended to stop taking anticoagulants for two months after surgery, but if the CHA2DS2-VASc score is greater than 2, then long-term postoperative anticoagulation should be recommended, and patients are recommended to take new oral anticoagulants for the long term.