What Are the Risks From the Procedure?

The risk of major complications for VT ablation in patients with normal hearts (Idiopathic VT) is ~3%.

Major risks of the procedure include but are not limited to:

• The risk of major vascular complications (arterio-venous fistula, pseudo aneurysm, dissection) which may require surgery is less than 1 %
  
  
• The risk of stroke or transient ischemic attack is less than <1%
  
  
• The risk of damage to the heart wall causing bleeding in the sac around the heart (cardiac tamponade) requiring drainage with another catheter or urgent cardiac surgery is less than 1%.
  
  
• The risk of death during this procedure is very low < 0.1% (1/1000)
  
  
• If the VT focus is close to the coronary artery there is a risk of damaging the coronary artery and causing a heart attack. A coronary angiogram is always performed prior to ablation if the focus is thought to be close to the aortic valve and coronary arteries.
  
  
• Damage to a major artery (aorta) or heart valve is extremely rare (These complications may require urgent vascular or open heart surgery to correct).
  
  
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