Severity of esophageal injury predicts time to healing after radiofrequency catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation

• Published in: Heart rhythm Vol. 8; no. 12; pp. 1862 - 1868
• Main Authors: Contreras-Valdes, Fernando M., MD, Heist, E. Kevin, MD, PhD, FHRS, Danik, Stephan B., MD, Barrett, Conor D., MD, Blendea, Dan, MD, PhD, Brugge, William R., MD, Ptaszek, Leon, MD, Ruskin, Jeremy N., MD, Mansour, Moussa, MD, FHRS
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 01.12.2011
• Subjects: Atrial fibrillation; Atrial Fibrillation - surgery; Atrioesophageal fistula; Burns - etiology; Burns - pathology; Cardiovascular; Catheter Ablation - adverse effects; Complications; Endoscopy; Esophageal healing; Esophageal injury; Esophagoscopy; Esophagus - injuries; Esophagus - pathology; Female; Humans; Injury Severity Score; Male; Middle Aged; Postoperative Complications - etiology; Postoperative Complications - pathology; Radiofrequency catheter ablation; Severity of esophageal injury; Temperature monitoring; Time Factors; Wound Healing; atrioesophageal; EGD; AE; Esophageal injury; Complications; AF; Atrial fibrillation; radiofrequency; Temperature monitoring; PVs; pulmonary veins; Radiofrequency catheter ablation; Atrioesophageal fistula; RF; LA; Severity of esophageal injury; esophageal endoscopy; Endoscopy; left atrium; Esophageal healing

Background The delivery of radiofrequency (RF) energy to the posterior left atrium creates a risk of injury to the adjacent esophagus. Esophageal endoscopy (EGD) is used to screen patients at risk for esophageal thermal injury after RF ablation. Objective The purpose of this study was to analyze the...