Oesophageal–pericardial and atrio-oesophageal fistula complicating a pulmonary vein isolation procedure

Abstract

A 66-year-old man with a history of catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation presented with purulent cardiac tamponade, revealing an atrio-oesophageal fistula. He underwent successful endoscopic management. A few days later, the patient fell into a sudden coma due to multiple cerebral air embolisms, resulting from a fistula between the esophagus and the right superior pulmonary vein.

Keywords

• Atrial fibrillation catheter ablation
• Pulmonary vein isolation
• Atrio-oesophageal fistula
• Cardiac tamponade
• Stroke
• Case report