[Risks of pulmonary vein isolation by radiofrequency for the treatment of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation: a single centre experience of the first 200 patients]. / Risques liés a l'isolement par radiofréquence des veines pulmonaires pour le traitement de la fibrillation auriculaire paroxystique: expérience monocentrique des 200 premiers patients.

The authors report the initial experience of an electrophysiological laboratory starting ablation for atrial fibrillation, a promising technique which is not yet widely practiced because of the risks related to the procedure. The incidence of severe complications (tamponade, pulmonary vein stenosis, ischaemic events) did not appear to be different in the first 100 procedures compared with the next 100 procedures: 3% in the two groups. The selection of patients, strict perioperative management and the initial support by confirmed operators seem to be the factors which minimise the complications rate of the procedure.