title: Atrioesophageal fistula after cryoballoon pulmonary vein isolation.
abstract: The risk of atrioesophageal fistula after cryoballoon pulmonary vein isolation is thought to be much lower than after radiofrequency ablation, seeing that no data exist on this complication so far. We report for the first time on the occurrence of an atrioesophageal fistula 4 weeks after cryoballoon ablation at the site of the left inferior pulmonary vein. We suggest that even when using cryothermal ablation technique, an imaging modality to assess the proximity of esophagus and left atrium should be routinely performed to avoid this fatal complication.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine-Cardiology, University Hospital of Bonn, Bonn, Germany. florian.stoeckigt@ukb.uni-bonn.de
authors.forename: Florian
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Stöckigt
authors.forename: Jan W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Schrickel
authors.forename: René
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Andrié
authors.forename: Lars
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lickfett
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D062906:Cardiac Catheters; D003452:Cryosurgery / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000295:instrumentation*; D022062:Electrophysiologic Techniques, Cardiac; D004618:Embolism, Air / Q000209:etiology; D004937:Esophageal Fistula / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D005402:Fistula / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D006325:Heart Atria / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D018458:Persistent Vegetative State / Q000209:etiology; D011667:Pulmonary Veins / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D012086:Reoperation; D020521:Stroke / Q000209:etiology; D013997:Time Factors; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D016896:Treatment Outcome