Neurological manifestations of atrio-esophageal fistulas from left atrial ablation.

Left atrial ablation (LAAB) is carried out as an alternative treatment of atrial fibrillation refractory to conservative measures. An increasingly recognized complication of LAAB is an atrio-esophageal fistula (AEF). Neurological manifestations usually dominate the presentation of an AEF and result from cardiac embolism of thrombi, transgressed esophageal contents, or air.

[Neurological complications of atrioesophageal fistulas: postprandial insults, epilepsy and meningitis].

Background: Atrioesophageal fistulas (AEF) are a life-threatening complication of left atrial ablation for atrial fibrillation or other atrial rhythm disorders, which mostly manifest as neurological deficits. AEFs result in an overflow of esophageal contents into the left atrium with subsequent systemic embolization.

Results: AEFs have been reported in 40 patients, including 18 males, between 35 and 72 years of age.

Association of IGF1 and IGFBP3 polymorphisms with colorectal polyps and colorectal cancer risk.

Purpose: Insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF1) is a peptide growth factor that promotes cell proliferation and inhibits apoptosis. The bioavailability of IGF1 is regulated by the insulin-like growth factor binding protein 3 (IGFBP3). The purpose of this study was to examine the association of genetic variants in IGF1 (rs6214, rs6220, and rs35767) and IGFBP3 (rs2854744 and rs2854746) with risk of colorectal polyps and colorectal cancer.

Neurological consequences of atrioesophageal fistula after radiofrequency ablation in atrial fibrillation.

Background: Radiofrequency ablation for atrial fibrillation (RAF) is an increasingly performed procedure. It is performed during cardiac surgery or percutaneously by catheter. A dangerous complication of RAF is atrioesophageal fistula (AEF), which predominantly manifests neurologically owing to food embolism.