[Catheter ablation of ventricular arrhythmias. Complications and emergency situations].

Catheter ablation of ventricular arrhythmias is an established treatment for patients with and without structural heart disease. For patients without structural heart disease, the aim is symptomatic relief, while the ultimate goals for patients with underlying structural heart disease are reduction of ICD therapies and improved prognosis. Rates for major complications range between 6-10% in patients with structural heart disease. Vascular complications are most common; life-threatening complications (e.g., pericardial tamponade and stroke) are less frequent. Procedure-associated mortality is reported to be 0-3%. In patients with idiopathic ventricular tachycardia, the complication rate is much lower compared to patients with structural heart disease.