Heart Rhythm
Volume 6, Issue 7 , Pages 962-969 , July 2009

The esophageal effects of cryoenergy during cryoablation for atrial fibrillation

  • Humera Ahmed, BA

      Affiliations

    • Cardiac Arrhythmia Services of the University of Miami, Miami, Florida
    • ,
  • Petr Neuzil, MD, PhD

      Affiliations

    • Homolka Hospital, Prague, Czech Republic
    • ,
  • Andre d'Avila, MD

      Affiliations

    • Cardiac Arrhythmia Services of the University of Miami, Miami, Florida
    • ,
  • Yong-Mei Cha, MD

      Affiliations

    • Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota
    • ,
  • Margaret Laragy, BS

      Affiliations

    • Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts
    • ,
  • Karel Mares, MD

      Affiliations

    • Homolka Hospital, Prague, Czech Republic
    • Gastroenterology Department, Homolka Hospital, Prague, Czech Republic
    • ,
  • William R. Brugge, MD

      Affiliations

    • Gastroenterology Department, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts
    • ,
  • David G. Forcione, MD

      Affiliations

    • Gastroenterology Department, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts
    • ,
  • Jeremy N. Ruskin, MD

      Affiliations

    • Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts
    • ,
  • Douglas L. Packer, MD, FHRS

      Affiliations

    • Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota
    • ,
  • Vivek Y. Reddy, MD

      Affiliations

    • Cardiac Arrhythmia Services of the University of Miami, Miami, Florida
    • Homolka Hospital, Prague, Czech Republic
    • Corresponding Author InformationAddress reprint requests and correspondence: Dr. Vivek Y. Reddy, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, 1400 NW 12th Avenue, Suite 4062, Miami, Florida 33136

Received 17 February 2009 ,Accepted 26 March 2009.

References 

  1. Scanavacca MI, d'Avila A, Parga J, Sosa E. Left atrial-esophageal fistula following radiofrequency catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation. J Cardiovasc Electrophysiol. 2004;15:960–962
  2. Cummings JE, Schweikert RA, Saliba WI, et al. Assessment of temperature, proximity, and course of the esophagus during radiofrequency ablation within the left atrium. Circulation. 2005;112:459–464
  3. Cummings JE, Schweikert RA, Saliba WI, et al. Brief communication: atrial-esophageal fistulas after radiofrequency ablation. Ann Intern Med. 2006;144:572–574
  4. Reddy VY, Neuzil P, Pitschner HF, et al. Clinical experience with a balloon cryoablation catheter for pulmonary vein isolation in patients with atrial fibrillation. Circulation. 2005;112:II491–II492
  5. Borchert B, Lawrenz T, Hansky B, Stellbrink C. Lethal atrioesophageal fistula after pulmonary vein isolation using high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU). Heart Rhythm. 2008;5:145–148
  6. Singh SM, d'Avila A, Doshi SK, et al. Esophageal temperature monitoring during atrial fibrillation is associated with a reduction in the incidence of esophageal injury. Heart Rhythm. 2008;5:S15–S16
  7. Ripley KL, Gage AA, Olsen DB, Van Vleet JF, Lau CP, Tse HF. Time course of esophageal lesions after catheter ablation with cryothermal and radiofrequency ablation. J Cardiovasc Electrophysiol. 2007;18:1–5
  8. Aupperle H, Doll N, Walther T, et al. Ablation of atrial fibrillation and esophageal injury: effects of energy source and ablation technique. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 2005;130:1549–1554

 Drs. Reddy, Neuzil, and Packer have received research grant support from Cryocath Technologies, Inc. Dr. Ruskin is Chairman of the Steering Committee for the Arctic Front Trial run by Cryocath Technologies, Inc., but has received no support.

PII: S1547-5271(09)00372-5

doi: 10.1016/j.hrthm.2009.03.051

Heart Rhythm
Volume 6, Issue 7 , Pages 962-969 , July 2009

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