What is the incidence, management, and prognosis of oesophageal fistula following atrial fibrillation catheter ablation?
Oesophageal fistula is a rare but highly lethal complication of AF ablation, particularly with radiofrequency energy, necessitating surgical or endoscopic intervention to prevent mortality.
Oesophageal fistula after catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation is rare and occurs mostly with the use of radiofrequency energy rather than cryoenergy. Mortality without surgical or endoscopic intervention is exceedingly high.
Tilz et al. (Sun,) studied this question.