title: Atrial-esophageal fistula after atrial radiofrequency catheter ablation.
abstract: Atrial-esophageal fistula is a rare but often fatal complication of catheter radiofrequency ablation. Patients occasionally have bacteremia and have been misdiagnosed with endocarditis. Infectious diseases specialists are often consulted and need to be aware of this complication. We report a case of atrial-esophageal fistula after radiofrequency ablation that illustrates the salient features of this illness.
authors.affiliation: Division of Infectious Diseases, George Washington University Medical Center, Washington, DC 20037, USA. msiegel@mfa.gwu.edu
authors.forename: Marc O
authors.initials: MO
authors.lastname: Siegel
authors.forename: David M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Parenti
authors.forename: Gary L
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Simon
mesh_terms: D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000601:surgery*; D017115:Catheter Ablation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004937:Esophageal Fistula / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D005402:Fistula / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D006325:Heart Atria / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed