Key result
Primary repair via left thoracotomy successfully treats delayed atrial-esophageal fistula after radiofrequency ablation for AF.
Primary repair via left thoracotomy can be a successful treatment for delayed presentation of left atrial-esophageal fistula following radiofrequency ablation for atrial fibrillation.
Successful left thoracotomy repair in delayed atrial-esophageal fistula supports feasibility; leaves open optimal strategies for this rare post-ablation complication.
Atrial-esophageal fistula is a rare but often fatal complication of percutaneous radiofrequency ablation for atrial fibrillation. We present a patient who was diagnosed with this complication in a delayed fashion and successfully treated with primary repair via left thoracotomy. The details of the surgical approach are discussed.
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Vassileva et al. (2011) studied this question. Primary repair via left thoracotomy successfully treated a delayed atrial-esophageal fistula following percutaneous radiofrequency ablation for atrial fibrillation.
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