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Atrioesophageal Fistula After Cryoballoon Pulmonary Vein Isolation
Author(s) -
STÖCKIGT FLORIAN,
SCHRICKEL JAN W.,
ANDRIÉ RENÉ,
LICKFETT LARS
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
journal of cardiovascular electrophysiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.193
H-Index - 138
eISSN - 1540-8167
pISSN - 1045-3873
DOI - 10.1111/j.1540-8167.2012.02324.x
Subject(s) - medicine , pulmonary vein , ablation , radiofrequency ablation , fistula , esophagus , complication , cryoablation , radiology , catheter ablation , atrial fibrillation , surgery , cardiology
Atrioesophageal Fistula After Cryoballoon PV Isolation . The risk of atrioesophageal fistula after cryoballoon pulmonary vein isolation is thought to be much lower than after radiofrequency ablation, seeing that no data exist on this complication so far. We report for the first time on the occurrence of an atrioesophageal fistula 4 weeks after cryoballoon ablation at the site of the left inferior pulmonary vein. We suggest that even when using cryothermal ablation technique, an imaging modality to assess the proximity of esophagus and left atrium should be routinely performed to avoid this fatal complication. (J Cardiovasc Electrophysiol, Vol. 23, pp. 1254–1257, November 2012)