title: Low incidence of permanent complications during catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation using open-irrigated catheters: a multicentre registry.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Despite catheter ablation (CA) has become an accepted treatment option for symptomatic, drug-resistant atrial fibrillation (AF), the safety of this procedure continues to be cause for concern. The aim of the present study was to assess the incidence of complications with permanent sequelae of CA for AF using open-irrigated catheters in a contemporary, unselected population of consecutive patients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  From 1 January 2011 to 31 December 2011, data from 2167 consecutive patients who underwent CA for AF using an open-irrigated catheter in 29 Italian centres were collected. All the complications occurring to the patient from admission to the 30th post-procedural day were recorded. No procedure-related death was observed. Complications occurred in 81 patients (3.7%): 46 patients (2.1%) suffered vascular access complications; 13 patients (0.6%) cardiac tamponade, successfully drained in all the cases; six patients (0.3%) arterial thromboembolism (four transient ischaemic attack and two ischaemic strokes); five (0.2%) patients conservatively treated pericardial effusion; three patients (0.1%) phrenic nerve paralysis; three patients (0.1%) pericarditis; three patients (0.1%) haemothorax, and two patients (0.1%) other isolated adverse events. At multivariate analysis, only female sex [odds ratio (OR) 2.5, confidence interval (CI): 1.5-3.7, P < 001] and the operator experience (OR 0.5, CI: 0.4-0.7, P < 001) related to the complications. Only five (0.2%) patients developed permanent sequelae from their complications.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Catheter ablation for AF with the use of open-irrigated catheters is currently affected by a very low rate of complications leading to permanent sequelae.
authors: Casa di Cura Mediterranea, 80122 Napoli, Italy gmrstabile@tin.it.
authors: Giuseppe
authors: G
authors: Stabile
authors: Clinica Cardiologica, Dipartimento di Scienze Cardiologiche, Toraciche e Vascolari, Università degli Studi di Padova, 35122 Padova, Italy.
authors: Emanuele
authors: E
authors: Bertaglia
authors: Casa di Cura Villa Maria Cecilia, Cotignola, 48010 RA, Italy.
authors: Alessia
authors: A
authors: Pappone
authors: Ospedale dell'Angelo, 30174 Mestre-Venezia, Italy.
authors: Sakis
authors: S
authors: Themistoclakis
authors: Centro Cardiologico Monzino, 20138 Milano, Italy.
authors: Claudio
authors: C
authors: Tondo
authors: Ospedale Ca' Foncello, 31100 Treviso, Italy.
authors: Vittorio
authors: V
authors: Calzolari
authors: Ospedale Santa Maria Nuova, 42100 Reggio Emilia, Italy.
authors: Nicola
authors: N
authors: Bottoni
authors: UOC Cardiologia ULSS 1, 54100 Massa e Carrara, Italy.
authors: Giuseppe
authors: G
authors: Arena
authors: Ospedale Santa Maria della Misericordia, 33100 Udine, Italy.
authors: Luca
authors: L
authors: Rebellato
authors: Ospedale Santa Chiara, 38100 Trento, Italy.
authors: Maurizio
authors: M
authors: Del Greco
authors: Casa di Cura San Michele, Maddaloni, 81024 CE, Italy.
authors: Antonio
authors: A
authors: De Simone
authors: Ospedale Civile, Conegliano, 21015 TV, Italy.
authors: Leonardo
authors: L
authors: Corò
authors: Azienda Ospedaliera San Camillo-Forlanini, 00152 Roma, Italy.
authors: Andrea
authors: A
authors: Avella
authors: Dipartimento di Scienze Mediche, Università degli Studi di Torino, 10124 Torino, Italy.
authors: Matteo
authors: M
authors: Anselmino
authors: Casa di Cura Villa Maria Cecilia, Cotignola, 48010 RA, Italy.
authors: Carlo
authors: C
authors: Pappone
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D062906:Cardiac Catheters; D017115:Catheter Ablation / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation*; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D004867:Equipment Design; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012042:Registries; D012307:Risk Factors; D007507:Therapeutic Irrigation / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation*; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: Atrial fibrillation; Catheter ablation; Permanent complications