Repair of left atrial-esophageal fistula following percutaneous radiofrequency ablation for atrial fibrillation

Christina M Vassileva; Tilitha Shawgo; John Shabosky; Soliman Soliman; Stephen Hazelrigg

doi:10.1111/j.1540-8191.2011.01296.x

Repair of left atrial-esophageal fistula following percutaneous radiofrequency ablation for atrial fibrillation

J Card Surg. 2011 Sep;26(5):556-8. doi: 10.1111/j.1540-8191.2011.01296.x. Epub 2011 Aug 25.

Authors

Christina M Vassileva¹, Tilitha Shawgo, John Shabosky, Soliman Soliman, Stephen Hazelrigg

Affiliation

¹ Southern Illinois University, School of Medicine, Department of Surgery, Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Springfield, Illinois 62794-9638, USA. cvassileva@siumed.edu

PMID: 21883460
DOI: 10.1111/j.1540-8191.2011.01296.x

Abstract

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.

Publication types

Case Reports

MeSH terms

Aged
Atrial Fibrillation / surgery*
Catheter Ablation / adverse effects*
Diagnosis, Differential
Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Esophageal Fistula / diagnosis
Esophageal Fistula / etiology
Esophageal Fistula / surgery*
Female
Fistula / diagnosis
Fistula / etiology
Fistula / surgery
Follow-Up Studies
Heart Atria*
Humans
Thoracotomy / methods*