Thursday, June 18, 2009

Esophageal Dilatation Post – Gastric Banding And Catheter Ablation For Atrial Fibrillation: A Case Report


Citation : Simon Townsend, Andrew James, Nicholas Daunt MBBS, Karen P. Phillips MBBS.Esophageal Dilatation Post – Gastric Banding and Catheter Ablation for Atrial Fibrillation: A Case Report .JAFIB.2009 June;Volume 1 Issue(7): 451-453.

Esophageal injury is a potential serious complication of catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation. We report a case of significant esophageal dilatation following previous laparascopic gastric banding in a patient with permanent atrial fibrillation undergoing a pulmonary vein isolation procedure.

The position of the esophagus was delineated on the integrated CT navigational map and on fluoroscopy by placement of an esophageal thermistor probe. Radiofrequency energy was delivered through an open irrigated tip catheter and titrated to maximum 25W and 40°C for lesions applied to the left atrial posterior wall. Esophageal temperature rises were only seen in association with lesions applied to the right inferior pulmonary vein and energy applications here were limited to avoid esophageal temperatures >38.5°C.

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