Heart Rhythm O2 (Oct 2020)

Assessing the perforation site of cardiac tamponade during radiofrequency catheter ablation using gas analysis of pericardial effusion

  • Yumi Katsume, MD,
  • Akiko Ueda, MD,
  • Takato Mohri, MD,
  • Mika Tashiro, MD,
  • Yuichi Momose, MD,
  • Noriko Nonoguchi, MD,
  • Kyoko Hoshida, MD,
  • Yosuke Miwa, MD,
  • Ikuko Togashi, MD,
  • Toshiaki Sato, MD,
  • Kyoko Soejima, MD

Journal volume & issue
Vol. 1, no. 4
pp. 268 – 274

Abstract

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Background: The incidence of pericardial effusion (PE) during radiofrequency catheter ablation (CA) for atrial fibrillation is approximately 1%. PE is a major complication during CA, but there has been limited literature about the perforation site responsible. Objective: This study aimed to retrospectively investigate the characteristics of the procedure and the patients in whom PE developed during CA. Methods: Of 1363 consecutive patients who underwent catheter ablation from January 2015 to June 2019 in Kyorin University Hospital, we reviewed patients who developed PE during CA. Results: PE during CA occurred in 18 (1.32%) patients (median age, 71 [interquartile range (IQR) 65–77] years, 7 women). The median body mass index was 24 (IQR 20–27). Target arrhythmias for CA of patients with PE include atrial fibrillation (AF) (n = 13, 72%), premature ventricular contraction (n = 2, 11%), ventricular tachycardia (n = 1, 6%), atrial flutter (n = 1, 6%), and orthodromic reciprocating tachycardia (n = 1, 6%). Seventeen patients required pericardiocentesis, resulting in 300 (IQR 192.5–475) mL of drainage. Two patients required emergency surgical repair, and 1 died from aortic dissection. Based on the gas analysis, the drained blood was of venous origin in 47% of the total events and 54% of AF ablation. Conclusion: PE caused by a diagnostic catheter in the right heart is not uncommon, even in AF ablation.

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