Table 3.

Known complications associated with ablative procedures in Catheter Ablation versus Thoracoscopic Surgical Ablation in Long Standing Persistent Atrial Fibrillation study

Adverse events	Serious adverse events
Bruising, hematoma, vascular injury not requiring intervention	Vascular complications requiring blood transfusion or intervention
Pericardial/pleural effusion (observation only)	Symptomatic pericardial/pleural effusion or requiring intervention
Broken rib	Stroke/transient ischemic attack
Pneumothorax requiring observation	Pneumothorax requiring chest drain
Infection (i.e., pneumonia)	Empyema
Pulmonary oedema	Myocardial infarction
Temporary phrenic nerve damage	Permanent phrenic nerve damage
Pain near surgical sites	Pulmonary vein stenosis (> 50% reduction in diameter from baseline)
	Requirement to insert PPM (with or without prior conduction tissue damage)
	Cardiac trauma requiring surgical intervention
	Radiation-induced skin damage
	Oesophageal atrial fistula
	Death

PPM Permanent pacemaker