Fatal esophageal–pericardial fistula as a complication of radiofrequency catheter ablation
The clinical role of catheter ablation using radiofrequency or cryothermal energy has become an important therapy in the management of patients with recurrent or persistent tachyarrhythmia that is refractory to medical therapy. It is regarded as a safe and reliable procedure and is performed routine...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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SAGE Publishing
2019-04-01
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| Series: | SAGE Open Medical Case Reports |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1177/2050313X19841150 |
| _version_ | 1818922825189163008 |
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| author | Ali Zakaria Kellen Hipp Nicholas Battista Emily Tommolino Christian Machado |
| author_facet | Ali Zakaria Kellen Hipp Nicholas Battista Emily Tommolino Christian Machado |
| author_sort | Ali Zakaria |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The clinical role of catheter ablation using radiofrequency or cryothermal energy has become an important therapy in the management of patients with recurrent or persistent tachyarrhythmia that is refractory to medical therapy. It is regarded as a safe and reliable procedure and is performed routinely in health care facilities across the country. Like all procedures, there are associated risks and benefits. Development of an esophageal–atrial fistula is a rare but often-fatal complication of radiofrequency ablation. It is the second most frequent cause of death caused by the procedure, with mortality rates in excess of 70%. Death usually occurs as a result of cerebral or myocardial air embolism, endocarditis, massive gastrointestinal bleeding, and/or septic shock. Electrophysiologists have instituted a number of safeguard techniques to diminish the risk of developing esophageal–atrial fistula. Despite these measurements, instances of fistulous development still occur. Herein, we report a case of a 74-year-old male who presented with chest pain secondary to esophageal–pericardial fistula 19 days after pulmonary vein isolation using radiofrequency energy for atrial fibrillation in order to illustrate the clinical variability and diagnostic challenges associated with this dreaded gastrointestinal complication. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-20T01:59:41Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-76615e6bbb2942fbb988b365f26daf99 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2050-313X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-20T01:59:41Z |
| publishDate | 2019-04-01 |
| publisher | SAGE Publishing |
| record_format | Article |
| series | SAGE Open Medical Case Reports |
| spelling | doaj.art-76615e6bbb2942fbb988b365f26daf992022-12-21T19:57:22ZengSAGE PublishingSAGE Open Medical Case Reports2050-313X2019-04-01710.1177/2050313X19841150Fatal esophageal–pericardial fistula as a complication of radiofrequency catheter ablationAli Zakaria0Kellen Hipp1Nicholas Battista2Emily Tommolino3Christian Machado4Division of Gastroenterology, Providence-Providence Park Hospital, Southfield, MI, USADepartment of Internal Medicine, Providence-Providence Park Hospital, Southfield, MI, USADivision of Gastroenterology, Providence-Providence Park Hospital, Southfield, MI, USADivision of Gastroenterology, Providence-Providence Park Hospital, Southfield, MI, USADivision of Cardiology, Providence-Providence Park Hospital, Southfield, MI, USAThe clinical role of catheter ablation using radiofrequency or cryothermal energy has become an important therapy in the management of patients with recurrent or persistent tachyarrhythmia that is refractory to medical therapy. It is regarded as a safe and reliable procedure and is performed routinely in health care facilities across the country. Like all procedures, there are associated risks and benefits. Development of an esophageal–atrial fistula is a rare but often-fatal complication of radiofrequency ablation. It is the second most frequent cause of death caused by the procedure, with mortality rates in excess of 70%. Death usually occurs as a result of cerebral or myocardial air embolism, endocarditis, massive gastrointestinal bleeding, and/or septic shock. Electrophysiologists have instituted a number of safeguard techniques to diminish the risk of developing esophageal–atrial fistula. Despite these measurements, instances of fistulous development still occur. Herein, we report a case of a 74-year-old male who presented with chest pain secondary to esophageal–pericardial fistula 19 days after pulmonary vein isolation using radiofrequency energy for atrial fibrillation in order to illustrate the clinical variability and diagnostic challenges associated with this dreaded gastrointestinal complication.https://doi.org/10.1177/2050313X19841150 |
| spellingShingle | Ali Zakaria Kellen Hipp Nicholas Battista Emily Tommolino Christian Machado Fatal esophageal–pericardial fistula as a complication of radiofrequency catheter ablation SAGE Open Medical Case Reports |
| title | Fatal esophageal–pericardial fistula as a complication of radiofrequency catheter ablation |
| title_full | Fatal esophageal–pericardial fistula as a complication of radiofrequency catheter ablation |
| title_fullStr | Fatal esophageal–pericardial fistula as a complication of radiofrequency catheter ablation |
| title_full_unstemmed | Fatal esophageal–pericardial fistula as a complication of radiofrequency catheter ablation |
| title_short | Fatal esophageal–pericardial fistula as a complication of radiofrequency catheter ablation |
| title_sort | fatal esophageal pericardial fistula as a complication of radiofrequency catheter ablation |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1177/2050313X19841150 |
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