title: Post-pericardiotomy syndrome following linear left atrial radiofrequency ablation.
abstract: Post-pericardiotomy syndrome may occur after traumatic insults to the pericardium but has not been reported after radiofrequency catheter (RF) ablation. A 54 year old man underwent extensive linear left atrial RF ablation for chronic atrial fibrillation. Five days after the procedure the patient developed signs and symptoms of the post-pericardiotomy syndrome and showed new, intense pericardial inflammation on magnetic resonance imaging. After intensive medical management, the patient recovered fully. It is believed that the patient experienced a unique complication of linear left atrial ablation, i.e., post-pericardiotomy syndrome due to extensive left atrial necrosis or direct thermal pericardial injury.
authors.affiliation: Medical College of Virginia, Box 980053, Richmond, VA 23298-0053, USA.
authors.forename: Mark A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Wood
authors.forename: Kenneth A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Ellenbogen
authors.forename: Jeffery
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hall
authors.forename: G Neal
authors.initials: GN
authors.lastname: Kay
mesh_terms: D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000601:surgery*; D017115:Catheter Ablation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D006325:Heart Atria / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009336:Necrosis; D010492:Pericardiectomy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D010496:Pericardium / Q000473:pathology; D013577:Syndrome