Cryoballoon pulmonary vein isolation can be complicated by a fatal atrioesophageal fistula, as seen in a patient 4 weeks post-ablation at the left inferior pulmonary vein.
Case Report (n=1)
This first report of atrioesophageal fistula after cryoballoon ablation highlights a rare but fatal complication, suggesting the need for imaging to assess esophagus proximity.
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)
Stöckigt et al. (Mon,) conducted a case report in Pulmonary vein isolation (n=1). Cryoballoon pulmonary vein isolation was evaluated on Occurrence of atrioesophageal fistula. Cryoballoon pulmonary vein isolation can be complicated by a fatal atrioesophageal fistula, as seen in a patient 4 weeks post-ablation at the left inferior pulmonary vein.
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