3.5 Complications
In our series we had only one major complication. A 47-year-old male patient, who was ablated for long-standing persistent AF, 15 days after the procedure, being on rivaroxaban, presented with cardiac tamponade and moderate left pleural effusion. The patient had undergone his first AF ablation in which PVI, box lesion and successful MI ablation (without CS epicardial access) was performed. The patient was promptly treated with pericardiocentesis, and after a short hospital stay, he fully recovered. To date he is free of any atrial arrhythmia recurrence for a follow-up period of 29 months.