Identification of a high-risk population for esophageal injury during radiofrequency catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation: procedural and anatomical considerations.

Background: Atrioesophageal fistula is an uncommon but life-threatening complication of atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation. Esophageal ulcerations (ESUL) have been proposed to be potential precursor lesions.

Objective: The purpose of our study was to prospectively investigate the incidence of ESUL in a large patient population undergoing radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFA).

Carotid stent fracture: diagnosis and management.

With increasing numbers of carotid stent implantations, stent fractures likely will be detected in this vessel region. The authors report two cases of stent fracture: one balloon expandable and one self expandable stent fractured and caused symptoms. CT angiography identified the stent fractures.

Impact of integration of multislice computed tomography imaging into three-dimensional electroanatomic mapping on clinical outcomes, safety, and efficacy using radiofrequency ablation for atrial fibrillation.

Background: Circumferential radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFCA) around the orifices of the pulmonary veins (PV) is a curative catheter-based therapy of paroxysmal, persistent, and permanent atrial fibrillation (AF). Integration of multislice computed tomography into three-dimensional electroanatomic mapping to guide catheter ablation has been shown to be accurate and feasible. This study investigated whether the use of such sophisticated imaging technology translates into better clinical outcomes, procedural efficacy, and safety in comparison with a control group treated with conventional three-dimensional electroanatomic mapping.

Accuracy of integration of multislice computed tomography imaging into three-dimensional electroanatomic mapping for real-time guided radiofrequency ablation of left atrial fibrillation-influence of heart rhythm and radiofrequency lesions.

Circumferential radiofrequency ablation around the orifices of the pulmonary veins is a curative catheter-based therapy of paroxysmal and persistent atrial fibrillation (AF). Three-dimensional cardiac image integration is a promising new technology to visualize the complex left atrial anatomy and neighbouring structures. This study aimed to validate the accuracy of integrating multislice computed tomography (MSCT) into three-dimensional electroanatomic mapping (EAM) to guide radiofrequency catheter ablation (CA) of AF.