Premium
Aortic Leaflet Perforation During Radiofrequency Ablation
Author(s) -
SEIFERT MARK J.,
MORADY FRED,
CALKINS HUGH G.,
LANGBERG JONATHAN J.
Publication year - 1991
Publication title -
pacing and clinical electrophysiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.686
H-Index - 101
eISSN - 1540-8159
pISSN - 0147-8389
DOI - 10.1111/j.1540-8159.1991.tb02732.x
Subject(s) - medicine , percutaneous , cardiology , asymptomatic , complication , catheter , radiofrequency ablation , ablation , catheter ablation , surgery , perforation , aortic valve , radiology , punching , materials science , metallurgy
A 15‐year‐old girl underwent successful radio frequency ablation of an accessory pathway. Following ablation, a new III/VJ diastolic murmur was noted. Echocardiography revealed a perforated aortic leaflet, with a small amount of adherent valvular tissue and trivial aortic insufficiency fay color Doppler. The patient remains asymptomatic. We are not aware of any similar complication from electrophysiological study, catheter ablation, coronary angiography, or percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty. We speculate that the current state of catheter technology contributed significantly to this complication. This case illustrates the need for using care in crossing the valve, continued advances in catheter technology to reduce the incidence of complications, and careful physical examination prior to and following attempts at ablation.