title: [A rare complication of cardiac radiofrequency catheter ablation: Esophageal irritation].
abstract: The complication rate of radiofrequency catheter ablation varies depending on patient characteristics and treatment, and has been reported to be approximately 3%. Esophageal irritation is one significant complication of catheter ablation, and its most common result is atrio-esophageal fistulae. However, rarely, unexpected complications and clinical variants occur due to irritation of the vagal nerve or peri-esophageal tissue without fistula formation. In this case report, attention is drawn to this rare complication in two cases, one of which occurred after paraseptal-epicardial accessory pathway ablation, and the other after atrial fibrillation ablation. Both were symptomatic with severe gag reflex.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Medicana International Ankara Hospital, Ankara, Turkey. drozlemoz@mynet.com.
authors.forename: Özlem
authors.initials: Ö
authors.lastname: Özcan Çelebi
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Medicana International Ankara Hospital, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Alper
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Canbay
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Medicana International Ankara Hospital, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Erdem
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Diker
mesh_terms: D017115:Catheter Ablation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004935:Esophageal Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D005683:Gagging; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology*