Esophageal perforation after radiofrequency ablation for atrial fibrillation.

Abstract

A 69-year-old man underwent left atrial radiofrequency ablation for atrial fibrillation. After 10 minutes, the procedure was terminated due to pericardial tamponade secondary to perforation during mapping. Pericardiocentesis resolved the tamponade. Ablation was completed one week later, and the patient was discharged. Two days later, he presented with odynophagia. Computed tomography demonstrated small bilateral pleural effusions. He was judged to be stable and was discharged again, but returned 2 days later with chest pain. He was found to have esophageal perforation with empyema, which was repaired using a muscle patch and esophageal stenting, successfully treating the lesion with minimal morbidity.

AI evidence extraction

Main findings

A 69-year-old man underwent left atrial radiofrequency ablation for atrial fibrillation and later developed esophageal perforation with empyema after discharge. The lesion was repaired using a muscle patch and esophageal stenting with minimal morbidity.

Outcomes measured

• Esophageal perforation
• Empyema
• Pericardial tamponade secondary to perforation during mapping
• Odynophagia
• Chest pain
• Pleural effusions

Limitations

• Single-patient case report
• No quantitative exposure parameters reported (e.g., frequency, power, duration, SAR)
• Causality and incidence cannot be determined from this report

Suggested hubs

• medical-rf-ablation (0.9)
  Clinical complication following radiofrequency ablation procedure.

{
    "study_type": "case_report",
    "exposure": {
        "band": null,
        "source": "radiofrequency ablation (medical procedure)",
        "frequency_mhz": null,
        "sar_wkg": null,
        "duration": null
    },
    "population": "69-year-old man with atrial fibrillation undergoing left atrial radiofrequency ablation",
    "sample_size": 1,
    "outcomes": [
        "Esophageal perforation",
        "Empyema",
        "Pericardial tamponade secondary to perforation during mapping",
        "Odynophagia",
        "Chest pain",
        "Pleural effusions"
    ],
    "main_findings": "A 69-year-old man underwent left atrial radiofrequency ablation for atrial fibrillation and later developed esophageal perforation with empyema after discharge. The lesion was repaired using a muscle patch and esophageal stenting with minimal morbidity.",
    "effect_direction": "harm",
    "limitations": [
        "Single-patient case report",
        "No quantitative exposure parameters reported (e.g., frequency, power, duration, SAR)",
        "Causality and incidence cannot be determined from this report"
    ],
    "evidence_strength": "very_low",
    "confidence": 0.7399999999999999911182158029987476766109466552734375,
    "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
    "keywords": [
        "radiofrequency ablation",
        "atrial fibrillation",
        "esophageal perforation",
        "empyema",
        "pericardial tamponade",
        "case report"
    ],
    "suggested_hubs": [
        {
            "slug": "medical-rf-ablation",
            "weight": 0.90000000000000002220446049250313080847263336181640625,
            "reason": "Clinical complication following radiofrequency ablation procedure."
        }
    ]
}

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