Although a catheter ablation is a standard approach that is widely used, there are some risks during or after a catheter ablation. These risks include the following:
  • Damage to the heart from either the movement of the catheter or its heat, which may require a pacemaker to correct it

  • Bruising

  • Leakage of the blood vessels

  • Damage and scarring to the pulmonary veins, which return blood from the lungs to the heart. Radiofrequency ablation has been shown to cause narrowing of the pulmonary veins, which may result in symptoms such as shortness breath of, coughing, chest pain, or coughing up blood. This condition is sometimes misdiagnosed as pneumonia, lung cancer, or blood clots in the lung. It can be treated by opening the narrowed pulmonary veins.
Rare complications that occur in less than one percent of patients include heart attack, stroke or sudden death, often resulting from blood clots that break loose during the procedure.