Preventing esophageal complications from atrial fibrillation ablation: A review.

ABSTRACT: Atrioesophageal fistula is a life-threatening complication of ablation treatment for atrial fibrillation. Methods to reduce the risk of esophageal injury have evolved over the last decade, and diagnosis of this complication remains difficult and therefore challenging to treat in a timely manner. Delayed diagnosis leads to treatment occurring in the context of a critically ill patient, contributing to the poor prognosis associated with this complication. The associated mortality risk can be as high as 70%. Recent important advances in preventative techniques are explored in this review. Preventative techniques used in current clinical practice are discussed, which include high-power short-duration ablation, esophageal temperature probe monitoring, cryotherapy and laser balloon technologies,

SUBMITTER: Leung LWM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8703125 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature