Surgical repair of an esophageal perforation after radiofrequency catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation

Fig. 1. Electroanatomical map showing sites of ablation The electroanatomical map showing the sites of ablation for the patient during pulmonary vein isolation. The red dots represent sites of ablation. The total procedure time was 2 hours and 9 minutes, and total left atrial ablation time was 18 minutes and 40 seconds.

Fig. 2. Computed tomography (CT) scan of the chest with oral and intravenous contrast showing contained esophageal perforation CT scan with contrast done 17 days after the ablation shows a mid esophageal perforation. There is extravasation of oral contrast media from the esophagus (blue arrow) into the mediastinal space in short distance to the left superior pulmonary vein. There is no visible connection to the left atrium or the pulmonary veins.

Fig. 3. Computed tomography (CT) scan of the chest with oral and intravenous contrast showing pneumomediastinum The same CT chest is shown. The mid esophageal perforation with extension into the mediastinal space results in a small amount of pneumomediastinum (blue arrows).