Acute fatal pulmonary vein occlusion after catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation

Journal of Interventional Cardiac Electrophysiology : an International Journal of Arrhythmias and Pacing
Brian NilssonJesper Hastrup Svendsen

Abstract

In treatment of atrial fibrillation (AF) catheter radiofrequency isolation of the pulmonary veins (PVs) has proved to be highly successful. There have been several case reports regarding PV stenosis, however none of these have reported a fatal outcome. A 31-year-old man was referred to us for treatment of complications related to catheter ablation. According to the documentation from the hospital, the patient underwent segmental ostial PV isolation for treatment of AF. A few hours after the procedure, the patient developed dyspnoea, hemoptysis, and a high fever. The patient was first diagnosed as having pneumonia but five days later transesophageal echocardiography and pulmonal angiography revealed total occlusion of the left superior and inferior PVs. When we received the patient he underwent open-heart surgery, which showed thrombi in the orifices of the left sided PVs protruding into the left atrium. In each of the left sided PVs severe stenosis was seen in the bifurcation area. Thrombus material was removed followed by placement of two stents in each of the left sided pulmonary veins at the first bifurcations. However, the patient died 14 days after the ablation procedure. Selective autopsy of the left lung revealed diffuse...Continue Reading

Citations

May 23, 2006·European Radiology·Ruzica MaksimovićPetar M Seferović
Jun 11, 2009·Herzschrittmachertherapie & Elektrophysiologie·B-D GonskaT Japha
Mar 21, 2007·Journal of Interventional Cardiac Electrophysiology : an International Journal of Arrhythmias and Pacing·B Hygriv Rao, Sanjeev Saksena
Oct 6, 2005·Cardiovascular Ultrasound·Angel López-CandalesRonald Pellegrini
Jan 5, 2007·Pacing and Clinical Electrophysiology : PACE·Guilherme FenelonAngelo A V De Paola
Jan 13, 2006·Pacing and Clinical Electrophysiology : PACE·Christopher ReithmannGerhard Steinbeck
Oct 2, 2009·Journal of Cardiovascular Electrophysiology·Claudia Herrera SiklódyThomas Arentz
Nov 8, 2005·Progress in Cardiovascular Diseases·Joseph E MarineHugh Calkins
Oct 27, 2009·The Annals of Thoracic Surgery·Zeena MakhijaSujal R Desai
Jun 25, 2014·Circulation. Arrhythmia and Electrophysiology·Vincent J H M van DrielFred H M Wittkampf
Nov 26, 2009·Scandinavian Journal of Clinical and Laboratory Investigation·Brian NilssonJesper Hastrup Svendsen

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Related Concepts

Related Feeds

Atrial Filbrillation

Atrial fibrillation refers to the abnormal heart rhythm characterized by rapid and irregular beating of the atria. Here is the latest research.

Arrhythmia

Arrhythmias are abnormalities in heart rhythms, which can be either too fast or too slow. They can result from abnormalities of the initiation of an impulse or impulse conduction or a combination of both. Here is the latest research on arrhythmias.

Atrial Fibrillation

Atrial fibrillation is a common arrhythmia that is associated with substantial morbidity and mortality, particularly due to stroke and thromboembolism. Here is the latest research.

Blood Clotting Disorders

Thrombophilia includes conditions with increased tendency for excessive blood clotting. Blood clotting occurs when the body has insufficient amounts of specialized proteins that make blood clot and stop bleeding. Here is the latest research on blood clotting disorders.