Open AccessIncidence of esophageal injury after pulmonary vein isolation in patients with a low body mass index and esophageal temperature monitoring at a 39 °C setting
Author(s) -
Kiuchi Kunihiko,
Okajima Katsunori,
Shimane Akira,
Kanda Gaku,
Yokoi Kiminobu,
Teranishi Jin,
Aoki Kousuke,
Chimura Misato,
Tsubata Hideo,
Miyata Taishi,
Matsuoka Yuuki,
Toba Takayoshi,
Ohishi Shogo,
Sawada Takahiro,
Tsukishiro Yasue,
Onishi Tetsuari,
Kobayashi Seiichi,
Taniguchi Yasuyo,
Yamada Shinichiro,
Yasaka Yoshinori,
Kawai Hiroya,
Harada Takashi,
Ohsawa Masato,
Azumi Yasutomo,
Nakamoto Mitsuharu
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
journal of arrhythmia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.463
H-Index - 21
eISSN - 1883-2148
pISSN - 1880-4276
DOI - 10.1016/j.joa.2014.05.002
Subject(s) - medicine , incidence (geometry) , pulmonary vein , isolation (microbiology) , body mass index , atrial fibrillation , microbiology and biotechnology , optics , biology , physics
Background Esophageal injury following catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation (AF) is reported to occur in 35% of patients. Even with a low energy setting (20–25 W), lesions develop in 10% of patients. Body mass index (BMI) has been reported to be a predictor of esophageal injury, indicating that patients with a low BMI (<24.9 kg/m 2 ) are at a higher risk. We hypothesized that catheter ablation with a lower energy setting of 20 W controlled by esophageal temperature monitoring (ETM) at 39 °C could prevent esophageal injury even in patients with a BMI <24.9 kg/m 2 . Methods Twenty patients with AF were included (age, 63±8 years; BMI, 22.9±1.3 kg/m 2 , left atrium diameter, 44±11 mm). If the esophageal temperature probe registered a temperature of >39 °C, radiofrequency (RF) application was stopped immediately. RF application could be performed in a “point by point” manner for a maximum of 20 s. Endoscopy was performed 1–5 days after ablation. Results Esophageal mucosal injury was not observed in any patient in the study. Conclusions Catheter ablation using ETM reduced the incidence of esophageal injuries, even in patients with a low BMI.