Journal of Arrhythmia (Feb 2015)

Incidence of esophageal injury after pulmonary vein isolation in patients with a low body mass index and esophageal temperature monitoring at a 39 °C setting

  • Kunihiko Kiuchi, MD,
  • Katsunori Okajima, MD,
  • Akira Shimane, MD,
  • Gaku Kanda, MD,
  • Kiminobu Yokoi, MD,
  • Jin Teranishi, MD,
  • Kousuke Aoki, MD,
  • Misato Chimura, MD,
  • Hideo Tsubata, MD,
  • Taishi Miyata, MD,
  • Yuuki Matsuoka, MD,
  • Takayoshi Toba, MD,
  • Shogo Ohishi, MD,
  • Takahiro Sawada, MD,
  • Yasue Tsukishiro, MD,
  • Tetsuari Onishi, MD,
  • Seiichi Kobayashi, MD,
  • Yasuyo Taniguchi, MD,
  • Shinichiro Yamada, MD,
  • Yoshinori Yasaka, MD,
  • Hiroya Kawai, MD,
  • Takashi Harada, MD,
  • Masato Ohsawa, MD,
  • Yasutomo Azumi, MD,
  • Mitsuharu Nakamoto, MD

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.joa.2014.05.002
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 31, no. 1
pp. 12 – 17

Abstract

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Background: Esophageal injury following catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation (AF) is reported to occur in 35% of patients. Even with a low energy setting (20–25 W), lesions develop in 10% of patients. Body mass index (BMI) has been reported to be a predictor of esophageal injury, indicating that patients with a low BMI (39 °C, radiofrequency (RF) application was stopped immediately. RF application could be performed in a “point by point” manner for a maximum of 20 s. Endoscopy was performed 1–5 days after ablation. Results: Esophageal mucosal injury was not observed in any patient in the study. Conclusions: Catheter ablation using ETM reduced the incidence of esophageal injuries, even in patients with a low BMI.

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