Complications from catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation: impact of current and emerging ablation technologies

Catheter ablation has emerged as an important therapy for atrial fibrillation. The past decade has seen tremendous growth in the use of this technology, as well as the use of novel sources and methods of energy delivery. As the volume and complexity of catheter ablation procedures for atrial fibrillation have increased, our understanding of the range of procedural complications has also grown. Thromboembolic events, esophageal injury, and phrenic nerve palsy represent some of the potential complications of atrial fibrillation ablation that remain challenging to prevent and manage. In this review, we discuss the strategies for the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of complications from catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation. Rapid recognition and treatment of these complications are critical for the improvement of patient outcomes.